Author: CNN Newsource

By Nick Lunemann

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    LAKEVILLE, Minnesota (WCCO) — A Lakeville family has turned their driveway into a small, free food pantry. It’s a place where anyone can stop by and grab fresh produce and staples with no questions asked.

Kate-Madonna (Hindes) Quast says what began as sharing extra garden produce has grown as the need has increased.

“We noticed there was a need as we went into fall and winter. We had never done this before,” she said. “We had cars lined up to come and get the food. It was completely full yesterday, and now it’s almost empty.”

She says the family recently partnered “with an organization, a few other families” to expand the giveaway. She added that many neighbors are struggling to bridge gaps between paychecks and benefits.

Her husband, John Quast, said the whole thing started simply.

“When we started it, it was just like, hey, we have more produce than we can use, and we wanted to share it with our neighbors,” he said. “And then times changed, and people actually really appreciated it and needed it.”

The family keeps items out that can handle the weather and accepts donations from neighbors and nearby growers. John Quast has a nickname for the setup.

“We call it garden to driveway to table,” he said.

Around the neighborhood, it’s better known as the Little Free Veggie Library.

Kate-Madonna (Hindes) Quast says the most meaningful feedback came from one late-night visitor.

“There was a woman last night who messaged, and I’m happy to share the message. It was very sweet,” she said. “She said she got to her car and she was crying because she felt that there was good in the world, and she was really struggling. That was the reason we do what we do, because we don’t know their struggle, but we can empathize with it, and John and I have both been there.”

Even with Halloween decor out front — “Beware” and “Stay Away” signs — the family says everyone is welcome.

And if kids stop by on Oct. 31? They have an answer for that, too.

“If a trick-or-treater wants a potato, a trick-or-treater can absolutely have a potato or an onion. We’re the house with the carrots,” John Quast said.

Kate-Madonna (Hindes) Quast says they gladly accept donations of food, but not cash.

If you’d like to follow the couple, just search “Little Veggie Library” on Facebook or send them an email at LittleFreeVeggieLibrary@gmail.com.

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By John Shumway

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Last week, you probably heard the reports that the home of our Pittsburgh Steelers, Acrisure Stadium, made the list of the most haunted football stadiums.

It also left us wondering…just what ghost might be the ones doing the haunting? There was no séance involved, just a Zoom with the keeper of Pittsburgh history.

Pittsburgh is a community that is rich in history, and there’s no better source for a good history-based ghost story than the Heinz History Center’s Andy Masich, who took us back to July 1755 and Braddock’s defeat in the French and Indian War.

“It was a massacre, the British lost 500 killed on the battlefield, and many prisoners were taken back to the point,” he said.

But they weren’t taken to the point, which was then the French outpost at Fort Duquesne.

“They sent those prisoners over to a place called ‘Kill Buck Island,’ which is right about where Acrisure Stadium is today,” Masich said.

If you’ve never heard of Kill Buck Island, there’s a good reason for that: at some point, the land between the island and the North Shore was filled in.

“The prisoners from Braddock’s defeat were tortured and burned at the stake on that island; their screams could be heard echoing off of Mount Washington,” he explained.

All of that happened on the ground where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers play football today.

“That’s possibly a reason for some unusual activity, especially at night over on the North Shore,” Masich said.

That’s not the only possible spirit connection. The other one has a football connection to the first professional football player, Pudge Heffelfinger.

“The Allegheny Athletic Association paid Pudge Heffelfinger $500, but he didn’t want to risk his amateur status, so they kept it on the down-low,” Masich explained.

Pudge was an amazing mountain of a man, a Yale graduate, and he led the Allegheny Athletic Association to undefeated seasons from 1888 to 1891.

“To this day, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has not deemed it appropriate to name Pudge Heffelfinger to the Hall of Fame,” he said. “It’s possible that Pudge could still be walking the corridors at Acrisure Stadium.”

So there you have it: tortured prisoners and Pudge Heffelfinger.

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By Ross DiMattei

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    ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (KYW) — A police officer in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is being praised for his bravery after diving into chilly bay waters to save an injured dog earlier this month.

Officer Matt Schmidt was among those called to the scene on Oct. 15, after reports of a tan and white pit bull that appeared to have been abandoned and was walking with a limp, according to police.

When the dog evaded animal control officers by leaping into the bay, Schmidt made a split-second decision to follow it into the cold water.

“I was like, ‘OK, it’s struggling, the current’s strong, it’s getting weighted down, and it’s just going to tire out,'” Schmidt told CBS News Philadelphia. “I just felt like, clearly, a boat is not going to get here in time. So this is not a choice. I have to go if I want this dog to live.”

Body camera footage released by the department shows Schmidt shed his uniform and slip into the chilly water. Schmidt estimates he swam about 100 yards before he reached the dog. He managed to secure a bite pole around the animal’s neck before slowly guiding it back toward shore.

“Once I had him in my control, I’m just basically talking to him,” Schmidt said. “‘OK, buddy, just help me. Swim with me, not away from me. Don’t make this double hard.'”

Drone video captured the rescue from above as Schmidt and the dog made their way back to land, eventually reaching a marshy area where Schmidt pulled the animal to safety.

Animal control officers treated the dog for its limp and other minor injuries. As of last week, officials said the dog is recovering well and in good health.

Despite the widespread praise, Schmidt downplayed his heroics.

“Honestly, I was just trying to do my job,” he said. “I’m just glad I got to save the dog.”

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By Adam Roberts, DMM

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    MANSFIELD, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — A Mansfield police officer pawned two pistols he took from the police chief’s office to pay his electric bill, according to a narrative released by law enforcement.

Stephen Eric Townley, 42, of Greenwood, faces two charges of theft by receiving – firearm.

The electric company shut off the power at Townley’s house earlier this year while he was with his wife and kids, according to the document. Townley hadn’t paid the electric bill because he didn’t have enough money to do so.

Townley knew there were two guns in the police chief’s office, and no one knew who owned them. He took those two guns and a gun he owned to a pawnshop, where he got a loan for $700.

Townley said he planned to pay off the loan and return the guns as quickly as he could. When the chief discovered the guns were missing, he ran them through a law enforcement database and found where they had been pawned.

Townley was arrested on Oct. 29 and given a $2,500 bond.

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By Kilee Thomas

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    WASHINGTON (KOCO) — Magnus Miller, an Oklahoma teen who saved a fellow basketball player’s life during a high school tournament, is now advocating for CPR training and AED availability in schools, taking his mission to Washington, D.C.

“There’s no way you were going to die on that court. I wasn’t going to let you,” Miller said during a reunion with Randy Vitales, the player he saved.

In January, during a high school basketball tournament between Dover and Life Christian Academy, 16-year-old Randy Vitales collapsed, going into full cardiac arrest.

Miller, an opposing player, rushed over to help, using his lifeguard training in CPR and AED to direct school staff until EMS arrived.

This week, Miller, now a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, along with two other Oklahomans, advocated at Capitol Hill to further fund the HEARTS Act, which provides funding for schools to train students and staff in CPR, purchase AEDs, and develop cardiac emergency response plans.

“It was a crazy experience. I got invited by The American Heart’s Association to go and help advocate as one of the Oklahoma advocates for $50 million in funding for the HEARTS Act,” Miller said.

Miller also had the opportunity to speak with state Rep. Kevin Hern during his visit.

“I feel like you can prevent this kind of stuff from happening. Obviously, I was fortunate enough to have this stuff and be there and have those materials like an AED, but a lot of people don’t have those resources, so this is something I wanted to step up and do,” Miller said.

Miller and Vitales recently met some Oklahoma City Thunder players at an open practice because of their remarkable story.

Two other Oklahomans, Deshawn Caldwell of Tulsa and Cheri Shepard, whose husband, Derrick Shepard, a former OU football player and NFL player, died of cardiac arrest in 1999, also advocated on Capitol Hill.

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By Pete Cuddihy

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    COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KETV) — You know what they say, kindness can go a long way.

And the kindness an Iowa man has shown his community is paid back as they help him with a much-needed repair to his house.

The roof on Richard “Boss” Stokes’ house can help explain the man’s character.

It may have some discoloration and missing shingles, but it’s kept his home protected for years.

“I would say, like, it’s 10 years past due. It’s pretty old,” said his grandson Owen Belt.

Stokes’s grandson Owen, lives with him.

“He’s proud, you know. He wants to be able to do things on his own,” said Belt.

And he has—taking care of himself and the people around him.

“He lives across the street from us. He’s kind of always just taken our family under his wing,” said neighbor Carrie Lear.

While he’s helped his neighbors get by, that sometimes meant putting his own needs to the side.

“He’s talked to us about needing a new roof. And, you know, everybody in this economy right now, it’s hard to come up with extra funds for things like that,” said Lear.

To pay it back to the man who is always helping them, his neighbors nominated Stokes to win a free roof repair from White Castle Roofing.

And Wednesday night, he got a surprise visit.

“You are one of the winners for our free Roof Rescue,” said Holly Dreamer with White Castle Roofing.

Which goes to show the importance of being there for one another.

“There ain’t nothing better than friends and family,” said Richard “Boss” Stokes.

White Castle Roofing says this is the third free roof they’ve given out this year, and they say ‘Boss’s’ roof will be replaced over the course of the next week—giving back to a man who always gave back to others.

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By Sean MacKinnon

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    FLORENCE, Kentucky (WLWT) — Florence Police K-9, a five-year-old German Shepard named Ajax, has a new toy even the strongest dog can’t tear apart.

“Bulletproof, stab-proof vest. So just knowing he’s a little bit safer means the world,” K-9 Handler Officer Blake Burkhardt said.

Burkhardt recently got Ajax the vest through a Massachusetts non-profit, given to Florence Police for free.

“I want to put that vest on him and just make sure he’s as safe as possible,” Burkhardt said.

We caught up with Ajax Wednesday who was in work mode and highly motivated, smelling out crack cocaine hidden in cabinets, performing obedience tasks, and biting down on an officer’s protective arm guard during a drill.

In the real world, the vest protects Ajax’s vital organs from any suspect with a knife or a gun.

“Whether we’re going into a track or a building surge or heading into the woods and look for somebody, because a lot of the guys we’re looking for, they’re either violent offenders or there’s a potential for them to be dangerous,” Burkhardt said.

Ask any K-9 handler: their pup is more than their partner.

“It’s the best job in the world. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Burkhardt said. “It changed my life. He lives with me. He comes home with me every single day. I’m with him as much as I’m with any other member of my family.”

Now, all four K-9s with Florence Police have these vests, keeping man’s best friend and an officer’s best asset safe.

“I wouldn’t want to go to some of these calls without my vest on. So I feel like I shouldn’t put him in there without his on either,” Burkhardt said.

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By Stephanie Moore

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    CRAVEN COUNTY, North Carolina (WYFF) — A man is on the run after authorities say he killed his grandmother in her home and then assaulted a deputy inside a Bojangles bathroom.

The Craven County Sheriff’s Office said on Oct. 25 Patricia Lopedote, 72, was found dead in her home on Highway Havelock.

During the investigation Lopedote’s grandson, 24-year-old Dominic Liam Connelly, was identified as a suspect.

Authorities released pictures of Connelly and his grandmother’s vehicle, which was missing from her home.

On Oct. 28, authorities said the grandmother’s vehicle was found, but Connelly was not.

On Oct. 29, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office heard that Connelly may be at the Bojangles in Vanceboro, North Carolina.

When a deputy arrived to investigate, authorities said Connelly was in the bathroom of the business and used a knife to assault a deputy before running away.

Connelly is wanted on multiple warrants, including murder.

Authorities said Connelly was last seen wearing all dark clothing running towards Bailey Lane apartments located behind Bojangles.

If anyone sees Connelly, do not approach and immediately call 911.

If you have any information on this case, contact the Craven County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 636-6620 or Craven County Communications at (252) 633-2357.

The Craven County School District announced Thursday that “due to an emergency situation in the Vanceboro community, Vanceboro Farm Life Elementary, West Craven Middle, and West Craven High School will be closed today for all students and staff.”

They did not explain what that “emergency situation” was.

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By Russ Reed

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    AUBURN, Maine (WMTW) — A Maine man faces multiple charges after he was accused of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and threatening to kill her if she did not steal items from the Walmart in Auburn for him.

Harrison Coleman, 50, of Lewiston, was arrested Wednesday afternoon and transported to the Androscoggin County Jail, where police said he would be held without bail until he faced a judge.

The Auburn Police Department said investigators determined Coleman had assaulted his 30-year-old ex-girlfriend, forced her into his vehicle and drove her to the Walmart Supercenter on Mount Auburn Avenue.

According to police, Coleman reportedly told the woman to steal specific items from the store and threatened to kill her if she did not comply.

The woman told Walmart employees inside the store she had been threatened, and one of those employees approached an Auburn police officer who was working a security detail at the store at about 1:30 p.m.

The officer then spoke with the woman, who said she had been forced into a vehicle by Coleman and brought to the Walmart against her will. The woman also told the officer her ex-boyfriend had threatened her if she did not steal from the store for him.

Additional officers responded to the Walmart to assist with the investigation. Coleman was found waiting in a vehicle parked outside the store. Police said the officers were able to corroborate the woman’s account through an additional witness and they took Coleman into custody.

Coleman has been charged with kidnapping, domestic violence assault and domestic violence criminal threatening.

Auburn police said they continue to investigate the incident.

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By Jon Schoenheider

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    KEENE, New Hampshire (WMUR) — A man at the Cheshire County Jail has been charged with plotting to kill a woman he claimed was his wife, along with her husband.

Edward LePore, 45, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation to commit murder. He was arrested Tuesday after a weeks-long investigation. Police were unable to confirm LePore’s original address.

LePore was in jail for a probation violation when, according to court documents, he asked another inmate if he knew a hitman. He said the targets were a woman in Maine he claimed was his wife, as well as the man he said was her husband, investigators said.

He allegedly suggested that he would be able to pay $50,000 for each killing and fund the plot by selling his house and his mother’s business upon release.

The inmate in question reported the conversations to jail authorities, who notified Keene Police. Court documents say the inmate was recruited to help officers record conversations involving LePore.

Investigators said that when the woman in question was made aware of the plot to kill her, she said she was never married to LePore. According to her account, the two were friends while she was separated but still married and spent time together on multiple occasions.

She told police that she blocked LePore’s number months ago after he was arrested.

Keene police said LePore has a prior arrest record but could not specify the charges or convictions.

LePore will stay in jail on preventative detention until a probable cause hearing scheduled for Nov. 5.

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