Author: CNN Newsource

By Michelle Charlesworth

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    NEW YORK (WABC) — A father and son from New Jersey were attacked outside their San Antonio hotel after Saturday night’s championship-clinching game.

The injuries, especially suffered by the father, who is in his 60s, are awful. His son said he has two black eyes and a shoulder ligament issue, as well as stitches and cuts on his face.

The son did not want to be identified because he’s still scared.

They were jumped in San Antonio when they got out of an Uber on what had been one of the best nights of their life after the Knicks had just won the NBA Finals.

“Two guys came out from the side, we didn’t even see them at first, just started punching us,” the son said. “At that point, somebody attacked my dad and half a second later, they punched me in the face.”

They say the worst part was that his father was knocked unconscious and was not responsive for minutes.

“I’m sitting there touching and tapping his face saying ‘dad, wake up, wake up,'” the son said. “I just see blood pouring out of his head, I don’t know where it’s coming from, I think I’m holding my dad as he’s dying.”

What started as their best night ever became one of the worst.

“It was the scariest moment in my life, for sure, I thought he was going to die,” the son said. “I just saw blood rushing from his head.”

His father had a pulse and regained consciousness. An ambulance was called, and doctors at the hospital told them his father had a brain bleed.

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 Alexa Herrera

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    New York (WCBS, WLNY) — The carriage horse that collapsed in Central Park died from eating a “highly toxic” plant, according to a preliminary diagnosis.

Deniz, a 16-year-old gelding, died on June 9. TWU Local 100, which represents carriage horse drivers, said there were no signs of the horse being ill.

While the final results of the necropsy are pending, pathologists stated they found plant needles from Japanese yews inside the horse’s stomach, mouth and intestines.

The plant, which is non-native and is for ornamental purposes, is poisonous to horses. It contains powerful toxins that interfere with the heart’s electric signals. This leads to irregular heart rhythms and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, according to the report.

The yew plant is toxic to all species, according to the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists.

“A substantial amount of the plant material was present in the stomach and intestine. It was subjectively interpreted as enough to be lethal,” the report states.

Union says horse handlers weren’t warned of toxic plants The union said the horse died because Central Park officials “never warned anyone that there were deadly yew plants in the park.”

The union said Deniz “paused and chomped on a shrub planted along the curb” on the day Deniz died.

“Deniz’s tragic death was not caused by neglect or abuse or the fact he was a carriage horse – as some animal rights activists and elected officials claimed,” TWU Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp said.

“This could have been any of the carriage horses, police horses, or recreational riding horses that use the park. Who knows how many dogs spent a day in the park and later died. God forbid a child puts Yew needles or a branch in his or her mouth,” TWU Local 100 shop steward and horse driver Christina Hansen said.

Central Park Conservancy pushes back The Central Park Conservancy pushed back on the TWU’s claims.

“TWU has now demonstrated how their own negligence has resulted in this unfortunate incident, since NYC Parks rules plainly forbid horses from eating vegetation anywhere across our 843 acres,” the Conservancy said in a statement. “The same rule requires carriage drivers and operators to attend to their horses at all times in order to keep them safe and healthy. Perhaps if they had, Deniz would not have suffered as he did, and died.”

They are pushing to ban horse carriages from the city.

“For the safety of visitors, other animals, and the horses themselves, we continue to support a ban on carriage horse rides in the Park,” the Conservancy said in its press release.

Poison plants? “We need to look into that,” Hochul says

CBS News New York’s Marcia Kramer asked Gov. Kathy Hochul about the finding that Deniz died from eating a poisonous plant.

“We need to look into that and find out, make sure that there aren’t any other animals – a dog could be exposed to that as well. So we want to make sure all of the plants that we have animals accessible to are safe,” Hochul said.

So does Hochul think horse carriages should be banned?

“And so this is part of the New York experience for many. We’re always happy to look at the options. But it’s a city decision, and this is something that they want to continue. And so, I’ve got a lot of issues only Albany has to worry about in the state. I’d like to leave some of the ones for the city to worry about; let that stay in their hands,” Hochul said.

Carriage horse controversy The controversy around using these horses in the city has been ongoing for decades. There have been several horse-related incidents in the park over the past 13 months that have reignited the push to ban them.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he supports removing carriage horses from Central Park.

“I think in Central Park, what we’ve seen is a lot of concern about the welfare of these horses, and I want to figure out a way for us to actually get to the end of that path,” he previously said.

A bill called Ryder’s Law was introduced to the New York City Council, proposing to ban the carriages. Another piece of legislation to counter Ryder’s Law was also introduced, calling for a comprehensive study on horse health and stricter driving training.

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 Taylor Thompson

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    BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A community fundraiser is being organized in Arden to support Jackie Fenstermacher and Cynthia Dunn, known locally as the “Mattress Sisters,” as they work toward securing a permanent home after losing theirs during Helene.

According to organizers, the sisters’ Fairview home was destroyed when a mudslide and massive logs crashed into the house during the storm.

Jackie, 74, and Cynthia, 75, along with their small dog, were swept away on a mattress through floodwaters and carried four miles down Garren and Flat creeks.

The sisters remained stranded in debris for two days before volunteers found them and helped them get to safety.

Now, almost two years later, organizers said the sisters are still living in a donated shed.

When Helene hit Jackie Fenstermacher had lived on the Fairview property for 33 years and convinced her sister Cynthia Dunn to come live with her.

On Sept. 27, 2024, they watched conditions worsen as water from Flat Creek crept toward their home.

“The river behind us is called Flat Creek, like it was already coming into the backyard,” Fenstermacher said.

The sisters said they were moving cars and bringing plants inside when disaster struck.

“It happened so fast, like one moment we’re sitting here and the next moment something hits so hard it threw us in the floor,” Fenstermacher said.

She described the impact as feeling “literally like being bombed.”

As the home began collapsing around them, the sisters climbed onto a mattress with their dog.

“I pushed her onto the mattress and then I threw the little dog onto the mattress and we jumped on the mattress and then it hit again and just ripped the bedroom to shreds,” Fenstermacher said.

The mattress carried them away in the floodwaters.

“I’m holding onto the mattress for dear life and at one point she’s like, ‘What are we going to do?’ and I’m like, ‘Pray, pray like you’ve never prayed before,'” Fenstermacher said.

Moments later, they struck debris that snapped the mattress in half.

“I had no control, I was just bobbing there hoping she’d see me,” Dunn said.

Fenstermacher said she regained consciousness and found her sister in the debris.

“I saw little hands sticking up, so I reached in and grabbed her,” she said.

The dog also survived.

“The little dog’s head popped out of the squished mattress and he jumped from here to there on top of her,” Fenstermacher said.

The sisters eventually found stability on fallen logs, where they remained stranded for two days.

“We were snuggled up together and at one point I was like, ‘Daddy would be so proud we survived this.’ And she goes, ‘Daddy would be mad we lost the house,'” Fenstermacher said.

The two survived on bottles of water floating through the debris and leaned on humor to get through the ordeal.

“I told Cynthia I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, I have got to pee,’ And she goes, ‘I’ve been peeing on you all night,'” Fenstermacher said.

Then came a moment Jackie said she will never forget.

“I heard Jesus say, ‘You’re going to be okay.’ And two hours later, we were rescued,” she said.

The sisters said rescuers with chainsaws spent about 40 minutes cutting through debris to reach them.

“Two or three men with chainsaws, it took them about 40 minutes, cutting all this debris, they come down in there to get us and at one point the guy was standing there and the sun was shining behind him and he’s got black hair and Cynthia goes, ‘It’s Jesus, it’s Jesus,'” Jackie said.

When they returned to what remained of their property, they found only the front porch still standing.

“There was a bible open, my front porch is the only thing that remains and there’s a bible open,” Jackie said.

The fundraiser Despite surviving what they describe as a miracle, the sisters said they are still struggling to find a permanent place to live.

That’s where Sleep On It Mattress Outlet and Gallery in Arden is stepping in.

The store is hosting an event, Hope Floats, on June 28 to raise proceeds and collect donations to help the sisters establish a new home. There will be live music, food, drinks and raffles.

Organizers are seeking monetary contributions, gift cards, community sponsorships and items that could help Fenstermacher and Dunn continue rebuilding their lives.

“They’re trying to raise enough money to get us a house away from where we are now, that’s what our big dream is,” Fenstermacher said.

The goal of the fundraiser is to bring the community together to support the sisters and highlight the generosity of western North Carolina residents.

Looking back, the sisters said the mattress that carried them through the floodwaters ultimately saved their lives.

“If we were anywhere else in that house, we would have been killed; that mattress literally saved our lives. I never knew mattresses floated either,” Fenstermacher said.

The Hope Floats event is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sleep On It Mattress Outlet and Gallery, located at 2200 Hendersonville Road in Arden.

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 Andy Alcock

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    BUTLER, Mo. (KMBC) — The search for answers about what caused a fatal skydiving plane crash began Monday.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the scene of the crash at Butler Memorial Airport on Monday and set up on Business Loop 49, also known as Orange Street.

The road was closed to traffic.

According to investigators, the plane took off at about 11:30 Sunday morning and crashed just after take-off.

The eleven passengers and the pilot were all killed.

Long-time pilot and trainer Robert Katz said there are several possible crash causes.

But because there were 12 people on board the plane with their parachute gear, his best guess is focused on one area.

“What I think happened here in this case is that it was, if not a weight issue, a balance issue. If too much of that weight is forced into the tail of the airplane, then the airplane is going to be impossible to control on takeoff,” he said.

“We will always look at weight balance on any aircraft accident and try to determine if it was inside the envelope,” said NTSB Vice-chairman Michael Graham during a briefing Monday.

A distraught man who came out to the site on Monday said he’s been a skydiving student for three months, knew everyone on board the fatal crash, and jumped himself on Friday.

Flight records show the same plane did five skydiving flights on Friday, two on Saturday, and two more flights on Sunday morning before the crash.

Graham, in his briefing Monday, also addressed what his investigators will do based on eyewitness reports of plane engine failure.

“They’ll be looking for videos and trying to actually interview those witnesses,” he said.

“Engine failure is definitely a possibility,” Katz said.

Logs show the same plane had run 16 skydiving flights in June.

Those logs show the flights typically last about 20 minutes, which is enough time for the pilot to get the skydivers to their jumping point and then return to the airport.

In the case of the fatal crash, the flight didn’t make it past the airport property.

Graham said NTSB investigators plan to remove the wreckage from the crash site on Tuesday.

He said they’ll then move it to another location for further examination.

Graham said an initial report will be released in 30 days.

He said a final report including the crash cause is likely to take at least a year.

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 Krista Tatschl

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    BUTLER, Mo. (KMBC) — Family members and officials have started to identify the 12 people killed in a skydiving plane crash in Butler, Missouri, on Sunday.

The plane, a Pacific Aerospace 750XL, was operating for Skydive Kansas City when it crashed shortly after takeoff in Butler, just outside of Kansas City, around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Bates County Emergency Manager Dennis Jacob said the aircraft was carrying nine experienced skydivers, two tandem jumpers and a pilot. Witnesses said the plane had just taken off when it began a turn, then nosedived into the ground on the edge of airport property around 300 yards from the runway.

Dane Cordes Friends have identified Cordes as an experienced skydiver.

Dave Hershberger Hershberger was a North Kansas City School District music teacher and KC Wind Symphony member. Officials with the school district said Hershberger had worked for the district for 11 years. He was also an avid skydiver.

Dustin McKinney – 44 McKinney is remembered as a father, drummer and expert skydiver. Family members said McKinney was the father of two and was the videographer for Skydive KC.

Nick Nash Known as “flying Spidey,” Nash was an instructor and expert skydiver.

Mike Shanahan Friends remember Shanahan as a father and papa, a man who was a dedicated area native, and a humble human who worked very hard. Shanahan was an expert skydiver. A GoFundMe posted for Shanahan’s family said the Kansas City Sheet Metal Union Local #2 member was on his way to his 23rd tandem jump.

“The world lost an amazing man yesterday,” family friend Brandon Carney wrote. Click here for the Shanahan family GoFundMe.

Jen Sharp Friends say Sharp was conducting a coach evaluation jump. She was an expert skydiver and parachutist. The United States Parachute Association said Sharp served as the organization’s Director of Technology.

“Her unwavering commitment to advancing the sport, supporting our membership, and strengthening the organization was second to none,” a press release from the organization said.

“Jen was a remarkable force whose passion for the skies was matched only by her dedication to the people in our sport,” said USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold. “Her loss leaves an unfillable void in our office, our community, and our hearts. We are incredible grateful for the years of laughter, innovation, and friendship we shared with her.”

Matthew Swope – 39 Family members remember Swope as a beloved uncle, son, brother, and as a cancer survivor. He had completed more than 750 jumps in his lifetime and was an expert skydiver.

Will Fischer – 23 Friends say Will Fischer was one of four people on their final jumps to becoming a skydive instructor.

Marcus Miller KMBC 9 News is working to learn more.

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By Steven Rosenbaum

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    Texas (KTVT) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was released from the Dallas County Jail on Tuesday after serving a 30-day sentence stemming from a 2024 car crash.

Rice was arrested last month after failing a drug screening, testing positive for THC while on probation.

Last July, Rice pleaded guilty to collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. The plea deal came with a 30-day jail sentence to be served within a five-year period of probation. At the time of the plea agreement, the timing of the jail sentence was to be determined.

The timing of Rice’s sentence meant that he was in jail for the rest of the Chiefs’ voluntary offseason workouts and mandatory minicamp. He is still recovering from a knee injury, although court records show he was given permission to leave jail to receive treatment at Parkland Hospital during his sentence.

Rice was suspended six games to start the 2025 NFL season. It is not yet clear if he will face additional discipline for the failed drug test or his expected absence from the Chiefs’ minicamp. The team did not respond to a previous request for comment from CBS News Texas.

In a statement to CBS Sports after Rice’s arrest, the NFL said it was “aware of the report” but declined to comment further.

Rashee Rice highway crash On March 30, 2024, Rice was driving a Lamborghini and his friend Theodore “Teddy” Knox was driving a Corvette on North Central Expressway in Dallas.

Both were speeding in the far-left lane near University Boulevard when the Lamborghini hit the center median wall, officials said, which caused four other vehicles to collide with each other.

Rice’s arrest affidavit, obtained by CBS News Texas, said he was driving 119 mph and Knox was driving 91 mph before to the crash. The posted speed limit on US 75 is 70 mph.

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By Dean Fioresi

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    RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Riverside County firefighters have made some progress battling a brush fire burning near the Calimesa area in Riverside County.

The blaze, which was dubbed the Shore Fire by firefighters, was first reported at around 3:20 p.m. Monday near the 31000 block of San Timoteo Canyon Road in the unincorporated area of El Casco, according to Cal Fire.

By Tuesday morning, crews said that the fire had burned 2,600 acres and was 25% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Firefighters said that the fire was burning near the Fisherman’s Retreat and that both water-dropping aircraft and ground units were working to control the flames.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Evacuation orders and warnings Just before 5 p.m., firefighters said that evacuation orders were in place for:

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Evacuation warnings are also in place for:

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An evacuation shelter was established at Valley View High School, located at 13135 Nason Street in Moreno Valley, and a shelter for large animals was established at San Jacinto Animal Campus at 581 S. Grand Avenue in San Jacinto.

Road closures The westbound 60 Freeway at the 10 Freeway is closed and will remain closed as crews continue battling the blaze. The eastbound 60 Freeway will remain open.

CBS LA has issued a Next Traffic Alert to warn drivers about the impact on their commutes.

Alternative routes include: the westbound 10 Freeway, Oak Valley Parkway and Gilman Springs Road.

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By Elyssa Kaufman

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    Illinois (WBBM) — A person of interest is in custody in connection with a cross found burning in Grant Park last week.

Police said the cross was found burning on Columbus Drive north of Balbo Drive in Grant Park on Tuesday afternoon. The flames were visible to anyone driving or walking down Columbus Drive, and the sight in the public park stirred emotions and shocked many.

Police released a surveillance image of someone they said was spotted fleeing the scene as a cross burned in Grant Park.

Chicago police did not provide further details on the person in custody.

Anyone with information about the person spotted fleeing the scene is asked to call the Chicago police Arson Section at (312) 746-7618 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com and use reference RD # JK288147.

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.