Author: CNN Newsource

By Aaron Hegarty

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    OMAHA (KETV) — A 76-year-old Omaha woman is speaking out after being forced out of her home at gunpoint by an intruder.

The intruder, who police said had a felony warrant and fled from police, died by suicide following a standoff. The incident happened Sunday evening in the Harvey Oaks neighborhood northwest of 144th and West Center Road.

Cleanup crews began working on Labor Day at Renee Corcoran’s home.

Neighbors said they heard gunshots as Read shot his way inside Corcoran’s backyard basement door Sunday evening.

“I just was worried about Renee,” said neighbor Staci Wise. “She was there by herself.”

Corcoran said she didn’t initially hear the gunshots.

“I was watching something on TV where there was an alarm going off,” she said. “Some movie where there was a break-in at a jewelry store.”

When her 10-year-old cat Archie became anxious, she realized the alarm she was hear wasn’t only on TV.

“He got all flustered,” Corcoran said. “And that’s when I started going down the stairs and encountered my visitor. He yelled at me, ‘Turn off that alarm.’ And I said, ‘Get out of my house.'”

Corcoran refused to turn off the alarm.

“I wanted it on if he’s going to stay in my house,” she said.

When Read pointed a gun at her, Corcoran left. She sought refuge with Wise and her family at another neighbor’s home across the street. A police officer stayed with them.

Corcoran commended the police response.

“I was hoping he (Read) would just walk out,” she said.

Omaha police said they negotiated with Read extensively via text messages for hours.

“I just feel sorry for him. Because from everything that I’ve heard, it’s somebody that really needed help,” Corcoran said.

Neighbors praised Corcoran’s strength in handling the situation.

“This is a safe area,” Wise said. “You never know. So be aware. Always be aware of your surroundings.”

The Harvey Oaks Homeowner’s Association is rallying to support Corcoran, who learned Monday it could take six to nine months to restore her home. They set up an online fundraiser that’s raised $2,750 as of Monday evening.

Corcoran said she understands the city will pay for damages caused by police. She plans to make an insurance claim for damage caused by Read.

Despite the ordeal, Corcoran has no plans to leave the house she has lived in for 31 years.

Corcoran also asked for people to stop driving by her house just to look at it.

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 Giacomo Luca

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    NEWPORT, Kentucky (WLWT) — A Campbell County Grand Jury has indicted John K. Ray on reckless homicide in connection with crash that killed a man who was assisting a stranded driver on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge last year.

The indictment comes more than a year after his alleged involvement in an early morning crash that killed Antonio Conrad, 36, and seriously injured the man’s fiancée.

Newport Police say Conrad had gotten out of his vehicle on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge early in the morning on July 13, 2025 to help a stranded driver after their vehicle broke down.

While helping push the broke-down vehicle, another driver crashed into the back of Conrad’s stopped car, pinning him between the vehicles and killing him. Newport Police said the driver stayed on scene following the crash.

Conrad’s hazard lights were on and the driver should have been able to avoid the crash, said Sienna Thompson, the victim’s aunt. His mother Silver Conrad says the past year has been filled with grief, but the indictment is giving their family a step toward closure.

“I often wonder how come he wasn’t arrested previous to this,” Silver Conrad said.

Conrad’s family say he was a father of six and a grandfather. They described him as a person with a big heart who would always stop to help someone in need.

WLWT “He didn’t care what he was doing or if he had to be somewhere at a certain time,” Silver Conrad said. “If he saw somebody in need, he was going out. That was just him. His whole goal was, I just want to help people.”

Anieya Phillips, the eldest daughter of Antonio Conrad, says her mother was in the passenger seat of her father’s car and was also seriously injured. The woman is still recovering from her injuries after multiple surgeries and physical therapy.

Conrad’s mother says family members plan to attend the arraignment on Tuesday. She says the indictment is a step forward for their family after this tremendous loss.

“I feel like this is the beginning of some sort of closure for me, for us,” Silver Conrad said.

Ray is set to be arraigned in Campbell County Court on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

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 Meredith Hackler

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    DELAFIELD, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Farming is an economic driver in our home state. With new Canadian tariffs and more beef imported from other countries, farmers are concerned about their bottom line.

Dave Morris Farms in Delafield is feeling the strain. The farm has been around since the 1940s. They farm corn, soybeans and cattle, but with the ever-changing tariff and import policies, their input costs have become even more unpredictable.

“Much like anything in agriculture, we can’t predict the weather, we can’t predict the price, we can’t predict the income, so tariffs are another thing on that list that we can’t predict,” Jim Renn, with Dave Morris Farms LLC, said.

For Renn, farming is a family affair. His family raises a variety of agricultural products, but he says the payment timeline can make budgeting difficult.

He says that often, farmers are not paid until after their products have already been processed or consumed. By then, market prices may have shifted, affecting the profit they ultimately receive. And as the market changes, so do the costs of necessities.

“Obviously, you know, diesel fuel is probably the biggest one. Fertilizer costs for the crops has been terrible and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to get any better,” Renn said.

Those increases in costs can change a farmer’s yield and potentially how many acres they plan to farm. On top of his crops, now the United States is importing more beef under a Trump-era policy.

According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision translates to a nearly 60% increase in beef imports over the next 90 days. The goal is to lower beef prices, but Renn says it’s not likely and is impacting his bottom line.

“Not quite a dollar but pretty close to a dollar less, so when you are talking about a 14-1500-pound steer, that’s a lot of money,” Renn said.

Renn says one of the reasons beef is more expensive is due to environmental impacts. Drought in the west and wildfires have caused cattle herds to dwindle. Those herds are starting to increase, but it takes time since the gestational period for a calf to be born takes nine months.

He recently sat down with staff from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s office. He says he is happy that his staff sat down with him to discuss the impact of the policy decisions being made, but he hopes it translates to change.

“There is hope that we possibly can reverse some of it, but the hard part for us as farmers and ranchers is how do we keep those numbers up to rebuild that herd when that dollar amount goes down,” Renn said.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates the President’s goal of reducing costs and securing fair trade, but they say farmers and rural communities bear the brunt of these actions.

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 Faraz Javed , Brandon Speagle

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Mark Cooper has built a career voicing superheroes and video game characters — all from a home studio in metro Detroit.

One look around the room makes it clear where many of those voices begin. Comic books, superhero memorabilia and microphones fill the space, including a “Power Ranger” helmet that holds a special place for Cooper.

“Oh, yeah. I’ve always been a fan of ‘Power Rangers’ stuff. A lot of the stuff I enjoy is from my childhood. That’s my official helmet from ‘Power Rangers Beast Hunters.’ Some of the stuff on the wall are legends and individuals I was able to meet,” Cooper said.

At 39, the Detroit native is a musician, producer, teacher and voice actor — a career he only started pursuing a few years ago.

“Voiceover acting is being able to bring a character or any kind of piece of art to life,” Cooper said.

Voice acting stretches far beyond cartoons and video games. Voice actors can be heard in commercials, audiobooks, phone systems and animation, among others — including one of Cooper’s latest roles, playing a 10-year-old superhero named Jet Boy.

“My name’s Jet Boy and I’m here to save the day,” Cooper said in character.

It’s not exactly what you’d expect from someone whose normal voice sounds nothing like that. Cooper said the ability to shift between voices comes down to dedication.

“It’s really about practice. I’ve always been a fan of trailer voices. But I also think about the passion behind a kid as a superhero. Being able to have that ability to go back and forth with that is rewarding at the end of the day,” Cooper said.

The transitions between voices can even catch Cooper off guard in everyday life.

“Yes. Absolutely. Sometimes, I’ll be at the grocery store like the other day and they were like, are you getting a case of water? I was like, that is correct,” Cooper said.

AI poses a growing challenge for voice actors

As the technology behind voices evolves, many voice actors are now competing against something that doesn’t need a microphone at all: artificial intelligence.

Cooper said his work has been affected.

“Absolutely,” Cooper said, when asked if his gigs have dropped because of AI.

A recent National Association of Voice Actors survey found roughly 1 in 5 voice actors say they’ve lost work to an AI-generated voice. Cost is a major factor. Human voice talent can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per project, while AI voices can often be created for a fraction of that.

But Cooper sees a silver lining in AI’s rise.

“But the thing is, what’s interesting is that now because of the fact that AI can be so accessible to anybody, now it sounds like everybody else. So it’s bringing back the organicness of a voiceover person for that,” Cooper said.

Cooper also noted that the impact of AI extends beyond performers.

“Even when you’re thinking about gigs dropping, you got to also think about the engineers and everybody that’s behind the scenes too. They’re also suffering. So now, it’s gotten to the point where you can literally just get a microphone. I’ve seen individuals use their cellphone, like their iPhone and stuff, have a live or any kind of things like that and done voiceover that way,” Cooper said.

Advice for aspiring voice actors

For those looking to break into the industry, Cooper’s advice is straightforward: “Start doing your research. Find your passion. Find where your inspiration is actually coming from. Then you can get into the technical stuff.”

And when it comes to the legacy he hopes to leave behind, Cooper keeps it simple.

“I want to be remembered as a person who did what they love to do, enjoyed life and being able to touch anybody’s soul that wants to be inspired,” Cooper said.

He then slipped back into character one more time.

“You think you know me, but you don’t know me at all. My name’s Jet Boy, and I’m here to save the day,” Cooper said.

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

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 Terry Camp

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    SAGINAW, Michigan (WJRT) — Two boys living in a Saginaw home have no school to attend as the new school year begins.

Sam Restifo says the children, now 14 and 12 years old, were dropped off at his home in February 2025 by a woman he did not know. He has been caring for them ever since in a home on Holland Avenue that currently has no running water or electricity.

“They have nobody, the mom is missing pretty much, they have no dads that are in their life, never had Christmas presents,” Restifo said.

The home was owned by a friend of Restifo’s who passed away five years ago. Restifo says he has been trying to save the home but faces challenges.

Restifo and his family members say they have reached out for help trying to get the two boys enrolled in school as the new year starts. They have been told without guardianship papers, they cannot get them enrolled in a district.

“I’m not a parent, I can’t do anything for it,” Restifo said.

He says the mother is not helping. The last time he spoke with her, she said she was working for a carnival.

Restifo believes the mother still lives in Michigan. He says the boys’ former principal from a Bay City school has had police check on the boys, and police have come, but nothing changes. Child Protective Services has been to the home as well.

“They ended up giving me a six month power of attorney, said I could get them into school with it, and the school said no,” Restifo said.

Restifo says he owns a gutter company, but times are tough. There has been no running water at the home for some time, and recently, the power was shut off. He is using a generator for now.

Restifo’s main goal now is to get the children into a school together.

“They are terrified of being separated, they have no one but each other, and me,” Restifo said.

Restifo and his family have been trying to get into the Carrollton or Bridgeport school districts, but so far have had no luck. ABC12 reached out to Child Protective Services about this situation but did not hear back.

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 Jack Mulvaney

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    HOLMEN, Wisconsin (WXOW) — Portions of the Black River along Highway 35 have dried up as the river naturally reroutes through Tank Creek.

The Black River flows nearly 200 miles before reaching the Mississippi River. But along Highway 35, part of that journey is changing as the river shifts its course through an area known as Tank Creek.

“We’re really watching history in the making here with this change,” said Meghan Jensen, a conservation warden in Trempealeau County.

Jensen said rivers naturally change course over time, and this shift has become increasingly visible in recent years. While much of the old channel is now exposed, it remains an active habitat.

“This is still a natural environment. It’s still habitat to many different animals, some we can see, some we can’t see,” Jensen said. “So, it’s very important that we do our part to protect that habitat.”

Visitors are welcome to explore the exposed riverbed on foot, but wardens say motor vehicles are prohibited.

“It’s illegal to operate a motor vehicle on the bed of a navigable waterway or its exposed bed,” said Trevor Tracey, a conservation warden in La Crosse County. “So, we’re seeing a lot of ATV, UTV vehicle traffic, and we’re trying to not have that occur.”

Tracey said wardens will continue patrolling the riverbed and enforcing the restriction. Violations can result in citations, and vehicles also risk becoming stuck in the exposed riverbed.

Wardens urge visitors to leave no trace, use caution around remaining pools of water and respect property lines, as the area includes both private and federally owned land.

If water does not regularly return to the old channel, Jensen said the landscape could continue to change as vegetation takes hold.

“Like we see on this sand bank now, we’re having vegetation start growing,” Jensen said. “If there’s an absence of water, we can just see that natural succession of maybe willow trees and other water, wetland types of trees and shrubs.”

The change does not extend across the entire Black River. Upstream along Highway 53, the river continues to flow normally. Along Highway 35, much of the water is simply taking a different route through Tank Creek.

For now, the exposed riverbed offers a unique look at a river naturally reshaping itself. Wardens say spring flooding typically brings water back into the channel, and they will be watching to see how the river changes next spring.

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.