Author: CNN Newsource

By Hunter Sowards

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    PALMDALE, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Jarring security footage captures the moment a pregnant employee chases a would-be thief out of an Ace Hardware in Palmdale, then wrestles a stolen AC unit away from them.

The woman who fought back was fed up with recurring theft at her store.

This is the model of the AC unit, not easy to pick up, and it’s actually very heavy,” store manager Carlos Morales said. “She had a lot of adrenaline. She picked it up with one hand.”

Morales said they never encourage employees to intervene during thefts, but many of his employees were tired of weekly crime sprees at their Ace Hardware.

“It’s exhausting, to be honest,” he said.

The store opened just six months ago but has been targeted by thieves nearly nonstop. As of September, they’ve lost $10,000 worth of stolen merchandise. They’ve resorted to locking many aisles in cages after the thefts became too common.

“Obviously, we started with no cages,” Morales said. “Everybody would come and grab. Now, everybody has to wait.”

Investigators believe the thieves are traveling from out of town. All Morales can do is file a police report after losing so much product.

“It’s never about the product,” Morales said. “It’s never about the money. It’s principle. It’s values.”

Theft is so prevalent in the shopping center that Morales gets together with other businesses every month to share photos and security footage to warn and hopefully protect other stores.

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 Alys Martinez

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    LANCASTER, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Three generations of nurses from the same family have all worked at the same hospital in Lancaster. For them, nursing is a family affair.

Patricia Pendleton started it all. She worked as a nurse at the Antelope Valley Medical Center for 25 years, and now she’s retired.

She said she is amazed that her daughter and granddaughters have followed in her footsteps at the same hospital.

“They’re doing wonderful things. They are working in a wonderful place, they are saving lives and that’s what we should all try to do,” Pendleton said.

Terryl Call said she was inspired watching her mom, Patricia, become a nurse and care for their father as he fought cancer.

“We were basically raised in the hospital for two years, and seeing the care those nurses provided for my father and the way we were embraced as children, it basically led my way,” Terryl Call, AVMC house supervisor, said.

She decided nursing was the path she wanted to take too, and has since become a supervisor supporting hospital staff.

The family’s legacy didn’t stop with Terryl. “It honestly makes me very emotional, but I am very honored and privileged to be able to see them and all the hard work they put in,” she said.

Her daughters, Tayler and Amanda, grew up hearing stories about the work their mother and grandmother did, and there was no pressure.

Nursing did eventually become their calling – they even went through nursing school together.

“Growing up, I just remember thinking my mom was the coolest person ever and my grandma was the coolest person ever and a lot of that came from what they did as a profession,” Amanda Starler, AVMC nurse said.

“It wasn’t really like we were pushed from generation to generation. It was kind of natural and flowed that way.”

Amanda and her sister Tayler both work in the ER. It’s a level II trauma center, and they get to see their mom every day.

“We work nights so we get to see her for an hour. She always comes down and says ‘hi’ and it’s the best thing,” Tayler Rodriguez, AVMC nurse said.

Three generations of nurses, one hospital and one calling. “I think it shows how much we appreciate our community and how we want to help and give back,” Rodriguez 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.

By John Garcia

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    WHEELING, Illinois (WLS) — A family is mourning the loss of its 6-year-old black Labrador retriever after the dog was allegedly left in a hot vehicle for hours following transport to a Chicago-area dog daycare facility.

Friends and neighbors have brought flowers and offered support to the Serota family as they grieve the death of their dog, Miller.

Steve Serota said Miller was more than a pet and was an important part of the family. According to Serota, a driver picked up Miller around 9 a.m. He said he later received a call around 4 p.m. informing him that the dog had died after apparently being left in a hot vehicle throughout the day.

“He was the definition of a good boy. Love everybody. He was one of those dogs that was super friendly to dogs, kids, everybody,” Serota said.

Serota said the family had sent Miller to Waggles Pet Resort dog daycare in Wheeling several times a week for the past five years. He said the daycare provided an opportunity for Miller to socialize with other dogs.

Serota said that after receiving the call, he immediately went to the facility and found Miller still locked in a cage inside a van. He said he could not understand how staff apparently forgot the 110-pound dog.

“It defies rationale. This was a happy loving member of our family who was left in a hot vehicle for hours. He didn’t deserve that,” Serota said.

Serota described Miller’s death as an inexplicable mistake and said explaining what happened has been extremely difficult for the family.

Waggles, which describes itself as a premier resort for pets, released a statement addressing the incident.

“We are devastated about the incident involving a dog on one of our buses yesterday. As dog lovers, the thought of any dog harmed breaks our hearts, and today we are grieving with the family,” the statement said.

The family said it is speaking publicly in hopes of preventing similar incidents in the future.

“I wanna make sure everyone is aware of this. There has to be accountability when things like this happen. This can’t happen,” Serota said.

The owner of Waggles said the company is reaching out to customers individually to discuss the situation.

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 Julia Avant

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    WASHTENAW, County (WWJ) — The family of the man at the center of a Washtenaw County investigation is speaking out.

It comes after the sheriff’s office released police body camera footage that shows an arrest that’s now the subject of an internal affairs investigation for excessive force.

“I was scared. I was thinking he was severely injured,” said the mother of the driver, Cheryl Stewart.

Stewart, mother of 35-year-old Derrick Tinsley, who was seen in a police body camera with his hands up when deputies knocked him to the ground. Moments earlier, the footage shows deputies telling Tinsley to stop before he drives through caution tape that was blocking off an armed barricaded situation on Harris Road in Ypsilanti Township last Saturday.

Tinsley later returned, and deputies tried to stop him again. Deputies say he ignored commands to stop, so they used a tire-deflation device to stop the vehicle. That’s when Tinsley came out with his hands up.

Stewart said the family and her son are embarrassed by what happened.

“I asked him why what happened and he said he didn’t know,” said Stewart.

According to court documents, Tinsley is charged with assaulting/resisting/obstructing police officers. Deputies say he appeared intoxicated and had children in the vehicle.

No one was injured.

Former Detroit Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt said officers should have de-escalated once the driver surrendered.

“My initial reaction was, ‘ Why would you push this guy so hard when his hands are in the air?'” said Dolunt.

Watching the video back, Dolunt noted that the driver did not follow the deputies’ orders when they told him to get on the ground. He also said the situation could have ended way worse for the driver.

“If you came at me in a car driving through police in yellow tape, I would get my gun out. I don’t know if you were going to hurt me. It’s dark, I don’t know if there are kids in the car, it could have been terrible,” said Dolunt.

A statement by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said it appreciates the community’s concern about what happened at the scene. The department said it is conducting its own investigation into what was said at the time and the force the officer used.

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 Adam Harrington

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    BATAVIA, Illinois (WBBM) — A chiropractor from Batavia, Illinois, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony counts related to secretly videotaping patients, including children, as they took off their clothes in his office.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s office announced Thursday that Dr. David Hanson pleaded guilty to producing and disseminating child sexual abuse material, both Class X felonies.

These were two counts in a 76-count indictment against Hanson.

Kane County prosecutors said Hanson secretly videotaped patients, including children, while they undressed inside his chiropractic office, and shared the videos online.

Prosecutors said investigators found more than 180 videos of his patients as they undressed. Most were filmed on hidden cameras in a red-light room used for red-light and infrared therapy, which requires a person undergoing the therapy to undress, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said last year that the youngest victim was just 3 years old.

Hanson also possessed and disseminated child sexual abuse material not connected to his chiropractic office, prosecutors said.

Attorney Tom Connelly filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of one woman, identified only as Jane Doe, and her two children. The complaint accuses Hanson of hiding cameras “to look like Honeywell room fans” and encouraging her to “perform stretches in the red-light room while naked.”

Kane County Judge D.J. Tegler set a sentencing hearing for Hanson for Nov. 10.

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 Tom Dougherty, Alicia Roberts

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — A Philadelphia man was arrested in connection with two burglaries in Montgomery County and an attempted burglary in Chester County, authorities said Wednesday.

A source told CBS News Philadelphia the attempted burglary was of Eagles RB Saquon Barkley’s house in Tredyffrin Township.

Jabir Parker, 24, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony burglary, conspiracy and related offenses, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said.

Investigators allege Parker burglarized two homes in Montgomery County and attempted to rob a home in Chester County between the overnight hours of June 22 and July 18. They claim Parker stole nearly $800,000 and a safe in the Philadelphia suburbs.

According to the DA’s office, Parker stole 12 pieces of jewelry worth about $106,700 during a break-in of a home in Bryn Mawr on June 22. Parker then allegedly stole 18 items of jewelry worth about $687,000 and a safe from a home in Wynnewood on July 5.

A source told CBS News Philadelphia that Parker attempted to break into Barkley’s home in Malvern on July 18.

Barkley and his family were home at the time and were awoken by suspicious sounds and called the police, a source said.

Police used cellphone location data, commonly known as geofencing, to link Parker’s phone to the crime scenes.

Investigators said they are seeking additional suspects in connection with the incidents.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is handling the investigation.

Parker is being held on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.

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By Joe Brandt, Madeleine Wright

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    DELAWARE COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KYW) — A group of good Samaritans banded together and lifted a vintage Volkswagen Beetle off a woman pinned underneath after a crash in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Video shared by police in Prospect Park shows the moments after the crash at 11th and Lincoln avenues Monday morning.

Bystanders can be seen rushing toward the vehicle from different directions. Seven people eventually worked together to lift the car and pull her out from underneath, police said.

Chrissy Vollmer, owner of CV Signs LLC, and her delivery driver were among the people who stopped to help.

“There was a lot of people around,” Vollmer said. “And he said, ‘Let’s lift his car.’ And he says, ‘3, 2, 1,’ and everyone pushed up.”

Vollmer said she was working inside her shop when she heard the crash.

“I just heard a bang and a scream,” she said. “So, I ran out and I saw someone’s legs underneath the car and then the lady was screaming, ‘Get me out of this car, get this car off me.'”

Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna said the woman was riding her e-bike down Lincoln Road at about 20 to 25 mph. He said the e-biker was rushing to an appointment and trying to pass a car that was making a right turn when the crash happened.

Madonna said the woman had to undergo surgery and is now recovering from chest injuries at a hospital. He added that the woman could face several hundred dollars in fines in connection with the crash.

During a news conference Wednesday, Madonna emphasized the actions of the bystanders who stopped to help.

“It was an admirable scene, and to be honest with you, it’s something I haven’t seen maybe in my 30 years of doing this,” Vollmer said.

Madonna called the rescue “heroism in its purest form.”

But Vollmer said she was just doing what anyone else would have done.

“I don’t know if I’m really a hero, but I was happy to be there that day,” she said. “And I’m happy that everyone’s OK.”

Police said the Volkswagen driver was not at fault in the crash. He was using his turn signal as he turned into the intersection, and then the e-bike collided with the car.

Police are working to identify all of the good Samaritans seen in the surveillance video so they can be properly commended at a future borough council meeting.

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By Noelle Lilley

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — An off-duty volunteer EMT was honored Wednesday for saving a man’s life at the 2026 New York Knicks Championship parade.

On Wednesday, Simone Kelly received the Lifesaving Award for Extraordinary Personal Action from The American Red Cross in Greater New York.

Kelly was enjoying the festivities on June 18 when she noticed a man climb on top of a subway station entrance, then pass out.

“If someone was closer and someone was gonna get there, I don’t feel the need to stick my nose in every situation,” she said. “However, you know, after probably 30 seconds of nothing happening, I said, ‘I cannot sit here any longer. I’m going to be the one to jump in.'”

Kelly and other parade-goers sprung into action and administered the overdose reversal drug Naloxone, also known as Narcan.

“Overdose is the leading cause of death for adults ages 18 to 44. And that is a number that I am uncomfortable with and that’s why I get trained,” Kelly said.

They kept an eye on him until EMS and police arrived.

“The message I think people should take away is get trained, get yourself prepared so that you can act. But the other message is be courageous,” said Doreen Howe, CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York. “Be willing to step forward and help someone else when they’re in need. Don’t just stand back. Step forward.”

Kelly is a member of the South Orange Volunteer Rescue Squad in New Jersey and also previously worked as a lifeguard. She said she hopes others are inspired to intervene when they see someone in need.

“We have gotten comfortable stepping over bodies, and I think we should be a little more comfortable stopping,” she said.

Kelly is currently studying neuroscience in Madison, New Jersey, with plans to pursue emergency psychiatry in medical school.

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 Hannah Kliger

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    BROOKLYN, New York (WCBS) — Imagine getting invited to a family Zoom call, and having more cousins than you can fit in Yankee Stadium.

For the Wyckoff family, that is not so far-fetched.

The Wyckoff name has been part of Brooklyn’s history for hundreds of years. The family traces its American roots to Pieter Claesen Wyckoff, who settled in the New World in the 1600s.

Ten generations later, Matt Wycoff is still learning about the ancestor who started it all.

“It’s definitely neat. I feel very lucky. You hear stories of people getting interested in genealogy, especially as they get older. And all that work was kind of already done for me,” Matt Wycoff said.

Dani Wyckoff is another branch of the sprawling family tree. She said the name has followed her across the country.

“I’ve run into people with the same last name at restaurants in California … They’re everywhere,” she said.

And sometimes, strangers recognize the connection.

“I’m checking in for the reservation. They’re like, ‘Oh wait, that’s my last name, that’s crazy,'” Dani Wyckoff said.

The family has even had a dedicated genealogist: Jason Wyckoff, a 13th-generation descendant and family historian associated with the Wyckoff House Museum.

“There’s Wyckoff town in New Jersey, there’s Wyckoff Lake in Michigan, this Wyckoff mountain in Montana, there’s even a glacier in Antarctica named Wyckoff Glacier,” he said of the family’s impact.

The family’s history is extensively documented through old records and books, tracing descendants through generations of early Brooklyn history.

Those descendants served in America’s wars, married into presidential families, and became pioneers in fields including art, science and film.

Today, the Wyckoff family in America operates as a genealogical organization with a database containing more than 65,000 family members across 18 generations.

The family’s history is centered around the Wyckoff House Museum, the homestead of their ancestor and a site believed to be the oldest standing structure in New York state. Its oldest part dates back to the 1650s.

And even 65,000 documented descendants may be only a fraction of the larger family.

“My conservative estimate thinks that there’s probably over a half million folks who really are what I would call a cousin,” Jason Wyckoff said.

For Matt Wycoff, who said he didn’t know of his family ancestry until he was cleaning out his late grandfather’s house, the most meaningful part of that history is the story of the immigrant who started it all.

“That’s the part of his story that I really connect with is that, you know, that he went on this grand adventure and was an immigrant to this country. Like virtually everyone else,” he said.

A grand adventure that created a family so large, you’re bound to run into a cousin in nearly every state.

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.