Kansas City, Missouri, mayor requests investigation into city’s response to concerns before Northland homicide

By Alyssa Jackson

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    Kansas City (KSHB) — Jeffrey King, 42, is accused of murdering his neighbor, Chris Wells.

King made his first appearance at the Clay County Courthouse on Wednesday.

He has not yet retained an attorney. The court entered a not guilty plea.

KSHB 41 Kansas City Reporter Alyssa Jackson has been tracking down information for the in-depth team based on publicly documented concerns about the defendant.

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas confirmed on Wednesday that he’s asking for an investigation.

“Our hearts break for the family and friends of Chris Wells. Serving both at the Board of Police Commissioners and City Hall, the Mayor has asked the City Manager and the Chief of Police to investigate how the concerns raised by Mr. Wells were routed, why issues went unresolved, and how we can ensure all receive the services they should expect from KCPD and the City.” Mayor Quinton Lucas KSHB 41 found 51 complaints reported to the city’s 311 department since 2023.

Neighbors say the defendant harassed people on the street for years in many different ways, prompting some of them to request no-contact orders from the court.

On Wednesday afternoon, Jackson saw the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department enter King’s home.

A neighbor shared that there have been requests made for the city to clean up the property, cluttered with furniture and items in the lawn and driveway.

Jackson made contact with the homeowners’ association.

Board members would not comment on the record due to the ongoing case.

The board has been working on making changes and addressing complaints against the defendant.

There are neighbors with differing opinions about whether the city, the police or both should have done more.

The victim tagged Lucas in a Facebook post last summer to express frustration with the defendant’s actions. Wells asked for the mayor to intervene.

Michael Galutti, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, shared that he believed police were working on the complaints, but it took too long.

KCPD declined to comment on any efforts made to address complaints prior to the shooting.

“I told the police we’re gonna look back and wish we had done something quickly. This is going to probably end in tragedy,” Galutti said.

KCMO’s 311 records are public record. Since the case is active, police reports involving the defendant are not public record.

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.

Hundreds gather in the Charlotte area to meet the monks ‘walking for peace’ across the country

By Serra Sowers and Cren Rosenbaum

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    CHARLOTTE (WXII) — A group of Buddhist monks “walking for peace” is in the Charlotte area today.

Thursday was the 82nd day of their 120-day peace walk from Texas to Washington, DC. They arrived in North Carolina on Wednesday.

Hundreds lined the monks’ path and greeted them as they stopped for lunch at the Sugar Creek Recreation Center.

Click the video player below to watch WXII12 News’ Serra Sowers coverage of the scene Thursday morning as onlookers prepared for the procession to pass.

Some carried flowers, hoping to pass them along to the monks. Others brought their dogs and cats for the monks to pet.

North Carolinians of all ages showed up to support the monks’ message of peace and unity, and to join them in prayer on the recreation center’s baseball field.

The Monks are now headed toward Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Thousands greeted them as they were escorted by local law enforcement through Charlotte’s North End. Aloka, the dog, even made a special appearance today, reuniting with the monks for the first time since his surgery.

Residents of the Piedmont Triad will soon be able to greet the monks as well. The group is projected to arrive in Greensboro early next week.

If you do visit the monks, here are a few things to keep in mind:

– You should walk behind, not in front of the group – Leave a clear path – Do not touch the monks – Hold your hands in prayer and bow – You can track their location on the interactive map here.

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.

Sacramento woman seeks community’s help after dog killed at Carmichael Park

By Andres Valle

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    CARMICHAEL, Calif. (KCRA) — A Sacramento woman is pleading for the community’s help to find the owners of a dog that attacked and killed her pet at Carmichael Park last Tuesday.

Marie Boys said her dog, Maggie, loved going to the park, but the tragic incident changed everything.

Boys was emotional when speaking to KCRA Thursday night, fighting tears as she recounted the attack.

“She was 13 years old. I had her for her whole life. She was my kid. She was the sweetest dog ever,” Boys said.

Boys described the attack, stating that a large black dog attacked them while she was walking Maggie on the morning of Jan. 6.

“I’m on the ground rolling in the mud, trying to get the dog off of her and screaming,” Boys said.

Despite her efforts, it was too late.

“I rushed her to the vet, to the emergency vet, and they told me that she wasn’t going to survive,” Boys said.

Now, more than a week later, Boys is focused on finding the owners of the dog that attacked Maggie.

“Like cowards. They ran,” she said. “I really need the community’s help to find these individuals. I can’t do it alone. And Maggie deserved better. I just need everyone’s help finding them.”

Fellow dog owners have reacted to the news of the deadly attack.

“They need to turn themselves in and get it taken care of because if they killed my dog. There would be no end to the story. I’d hunt them until I found them. People need to be more responsible, I feel,” Lewis Fender said.

Boys has been leaving posters at the dog park entrance, warning others and pleading for the dog’s owners to come forward.

“Please bring your dog to the authorities. It is violent. It should not be on the streets. You obviously cannot control your animal,” she said.

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District is aware of the incident, and anyone with information is asked to call animal control at 311.

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.

4-year-old dies after being hit by vehicle in hospital parking lot in Albuquerque

By Vincent Rodriguez, Aliyah Chavez

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    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KOAT) — Albuquerque police are investigating a fatal crash that happened at Presbyterian Hospital on Thursday morning.

According to Albuquerque police, the 4-year-old and her father were in a crosswalk in the parking lot of Presbyterian Hospital when the crash happened. Police previously stated the child was aged 5 before making the correction Thursday evening.

Police said a pickup truck pulling a trailer struck the child as she and her father were crossing the crosswalk.

Police also said the child was then taken to the hospital’s emergency room, but later died from her injuries. The father was not hurt in the crash.

A police spokesperson said there were no signs of impairment with the driver involved and no charges have been filed.

Police closed parts of the area as they investigated the scene.

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.

Teen arrested for deadly shooting of Alisal High School student

By Jacquelyn Quinones

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    SALINAS, Calif. (KSBW) — More than a month after 14-year-old Alisal High School student Ethan Emmanuel Rodriguez was shot and killed near the campus, police have arrested a 16-year-old student from the same school district.

The incident occurred on December 5, a Friday afternoon, near Camarillo and Moreno shortly after school let out. Salinas Union High School District staff confirmed that witnesses came forward to assist with the investigation.

“I think I want to express some gratitude to the community members, to the students, to the families that came forward to really identify some of the aspects that were needed in this investigation,” Superintendent for Salinas Union High School District, Zandra Galvan, said.

Salinas police stated that the investigation remains active, and they cannot release much information since the suspect is a juvenile.

“We’re working through the District Attorney’s Office and our investigation team to see if there is any other information, other suspects, or anything else because he is a juvenile as well, we’re not allowed to provide any other information, and the investigation is ongoing,” Salinas Police Chief Carlos Acosta said.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the incident was gang-related.

The district emphasized its strict safety measures, noting that while the incident did not occur on campus, it is reinforcing its commitment to student safety.

“We have a system that when people sign into our campuses, we’re making sure that you are properly identified and that you can be on our campuses within the area of students we also have security team members anywhere from 7 to 8 people that are designated as campus safety,” Galvan said.

Additionally, the district highlighted the use of high-speed cameras capturing footage during school hours and in surrounding areas to maintain safe facilities.

“We have high-speed cameras that are capturing footage during the school and around, so some of the footage is also directed to the streets and other areas that remain watched so that we can maintain safe facilities,” Galvan said.

The Salinas Union High School District has made counseling and support services available to anyone affected by the incident.

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.

Behind the scenes: How 850 truckloads of dirt transform Tulsa Expo into Chili Bowl paradise

By CJ Maclin

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    TULSA, Okla. (KJRH) — Behind the roar of engines at the Chili Bowl Nationals is a quiet army of workers making the iconic racing event possible.

Truck drivers like Martin Edwards have been transforming the Tulsa Expo Center from an empty building into a dirt racing paradise for two decades. The massive undertaking requires hauling hundreds of truckloads of dirt in marathon shifts.

“We store the dirt about 2-3 miles down the road. So, it’s the same dirt every year. We have to add a few loads every so many years just from stuff we lose from getting stuff thrown off the racetrack and too much trash getting in it,” Edwards said. “They go off the racetrack and stuck on cars and in the pits and then gets picked up and who knows where it goes. So, we have to replenish every 5-10 years. We have to get find a few loads here and there.”

Edwards says most people don’t realize the scope of their work. His team installs every barricade, fence post and cable for the weeklong event.

This year they broke their own record by completing the setup in just over a week. About 750-850 truckloads of dirt takes an entire day to deliver to the arena alone. This year they used over 20 trucks to help with this effort.

We went behind the scenes of the Chili Bowl Nationals to see how all of their work transforms the venue into racing paradise.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. ­­­KJRH 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.

Postal worker robbed at gunpoint while delivering mail in Central Fresno, police say

By Brisa Colón

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    FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A frightening morning for a local mail carrier. In broad daylight, a thief is captured on video approaching a mailman in Central Fresno and robbing him at gunpoint.

The gunman then walked off and is still on the run. This all happened in a neighborhood off Hammond Avenue near Fruit Avenue.

It was 11 Thursday morning when a mailman was on his daily route in Central Fresno.

Doorbell video captured a man wearing all black appear from the sidewalk. A different view shows the man with a hand in his pocket- cross the grass to approach the mailman. That’s when police say he pulled out a gun and in a matter of seconds robbed the mail carrier.

But it was the moment right after, the mailman continued to deliver the mail to one more house as the robber walked off. The postman then approached a nearby car to ask for help.

“Give it up to the mailman, who actually finished delivering the mail right after it happened, and then finally it all kind of caught up to him once the guy was gone,” says Jephrey Neville, neighbor.

Police say the armed robber took off with the mailman’s phone, wallet, and keys, including keys to his mail van. The robber did not take his bag of mail.

The postman, thankfully, uninjured.

Authorities say the robber used what appeared to be a black handgun.

Police and federal law enforcement were on scene in minutes canvassing the area for a trace of the suspect who could now face federal charges.

“Shocked, I’m shocked why? He has no money,” says Dan Saunders, neighbor.

“He’s our favorite mailman, you know, I was telling the officer, mailman should only have to be worried about dogs and everything and not being robbed at gunpoint,” says Neville.

Neville was left heartbroken; he couldn’t believe this happened to his neighborhood mailman.

“I wanted to give him a hug. The first thing I went up, I shook his hand. I told him I was really sorry, it just shouldn’t happen to people like that,” says Neville.

At this point, the US Postal Service authorities are handling the investigation.

Action News has learned that there is a reward for anyone who has information leading to the suspect, that reward could be up to 150-thousand dollars.

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.

Cat missing for a decade found, reunited with family in Colorado Springs after microchip scan

By Sadie Buggle

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — In 2016, an orange cat bolted out the front door of his family’s home in Colorado Springs and disappeared. Last week, nearly a decade after he went missing, a routine microchip scan led him to finally be reunited with his family, who say after all these years they never thought the reunion would come.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) said Kennedy, an orange cat “with a healthy sense of independence,” went missing from his home ten years ago after he bolted out the front door and didn’t come back. His family searched extensively, posting flyers and filing reports, but over time, leads ran out.

“After years of waiting, his family had to accept the heartbreaking possibility that their little orange adventurer might be gone forever,” the shelter said.

Until about a week ago.

Ten years after Kennedy’s disappearance, a Good Samaritan brought an orange cat into HSPPR, who they said had been roaming their neighborhood for months.

Staff scanned him for identification, which is when they discovered a registered microchip containing his name and the contact information of the family, who had reported him missing over a decade earlier.

“Kennedy’s family could hardly believe what they were hearing. After ten long years, their cat, their baby, their 2016 mystery, was finally coming home,” HSPPR said in a social media post.

The shelter says stories like Kennedy’s are exactly why microchips are so crucial. Unlike collars or tags, microchips provide permanent identification that cannot be lost or removed. Clinics and shelters also routinely scan found animals, making microchips one of the most reliable ways to reconnect pets with their owners – even years later.

“When a pet gets separated from their people, a microchip gives us the fastest, easiest way to bring them back where they belong,” the shelter said.

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 remembers Utah man killed in Wyoming avalanche

By Andrew Adams

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    SPRINGVILLE (KSL) — Family members on Thursday were remembering a Utah man killed in an avalanche in Wyoming as an adventurer who loved life and others around him.

According to his family, 31-year-old Nicholas Bringhurst was snowmobiling with one of his good friends Sunday in the backcountry near Star Valley when the avalanche came down.

Mother Cindy Bringhurst and other family and friends gathered Thursday afternoon and were reflecting on Nicholas’ life, including “his smile, his laugh, the joy he brought everybody.”

“One thing you’ll notice in a lot of Nicholas’ pictures is his smile,” the mother said during an interview with KSL. “He was just always there, loving others.”

Bringhurst described her son as an outdoorsman from the start, learning to snowmobile and waterski at the age of 4 and snowboard at the age of 5.

She said Nick met his wife when they were both working as river guides in Moab, and their outdoor adventures together were an ongoing part of their marriage.

“They loved rafting; he loves kayaking,” she said.

Bringhurst said her son was an extremely experienced snowmobiler and was well-equipped when he went out Sunday with his friend, Caden Spencer.

The mother called Spencer “our hero,” after he did what he could to save Nicholas’ life.

Spencer told KSL they had gone snowmobiling “hundreds of times” and it was a beautiful day before the avalanche struck.

“He was a dang good snowmobiler,” Spencer said, still visibly emotional over the unexpected loss.

Cindy Bringhurst said the family had a home at the south end of Star Valley, and it was a regular occasion for her son to go with his wife and friends into the outdoors there.

“We have loved our time up there with Nicholas and Lauren,” the mother said. “Because of this house, the last 4 1/2 years we got a lot of really quality time with Nicholas and Lauren when they would come up and we were all together.”

Relatives set up a GoFundMe* account to help Bringhurst’s widow in the near term with expenses.

The family shared many pictures of the couple appearing happy together in the outdoors.

“As we’re going through all these pictures, the thing that I love seeing is that he was with Lauren,” Cindy Bringhurst said.

She said she hoped others would reflect on how her son lived his life.

“That’s what I want people to take away from it,” Cindy Bringhurst said. “Live your life, live big and love other people.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. ­­­KSL 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.

‘We have what it takes’: Miami Hurricanes fans are excited for national championship game

By Angela Rozier

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — The Miami Hurricanes are set to compete for a national championship against Indiana, and fans and alumni are eagerly anticipating the game, drawing comparisons to past successes.

Roderick Carter, a former linebacker and 1987 national champion and Greenacres resident, reflected on the current team’s potential.

“It brings me back to the glory days. Brings me back to where we were competing at a high level,” Carter said.

He is now a behavior coach and case manager with the Palm Beach County School District, and says he sees similarities between his championship team and this year’s squad.

“I know there’s a lot of analysis and experts, you know, thinking that Miami is going to come up short. I just think that we have what it takes, you know, to be victorious come Monday night,” Carter said.

Fans are equally enthusiastic, especially after the team’s recent victory over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.

Canes fan Daniela Battisti said the win has bolstered their belief in the team’s ability to secure the championship.

“I think our defense has been really great this year. Our defense and our offense, we have some really great players; Malachi Toney has been killing it. Shout out to him, he’s amazing,” Battisti said.

The last national championship win for the Hurricanes was in 2001, and many current fans weren’t even born then. However, the spirit of the “U” remains strong.

The University of Miami is hosting a students-only watch party on campus Monday night, adding to the excitement surrounding the game.

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.