Author: CNN Newsource

By WUPA Digital Team

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA (WUPA) — The FBI is investigating reports that a device designed to start a fire was thrown at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night.

The incident was reported around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 20, according to FBI Atlanta. The agency said personnel and evidence technicians were at the site collecting evidence.

“There is no known threat to public safety at this time,” the FBI said in a statement.

Atlanta police confirmed officers responded to reports of an object being thrown at 180 Ted Turner Drive SW. No injuries or active fire were reported, police said.

The investigation is ongoing. The FBI said no further details were available.

CBS News Atlanta has reached out to ICE for more information. We will update this story when we 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 Jolie Sherman

Click here for updates on this story

    TROY, Michigan (WXYZ) — A teenager injured in an e-bike crash in Troy last summer is suing both the driver involved and General Motors, alleging they bear responsibility for the collision that left him seriously hurt.

The lawsuit stems from a crash captured on a dash camera by an off-duty Troy firefighter. The video shows then-14-year-old Johnathan Do riding his e-bike on the sidewalk along John R Road and crossing Square Lake Road when he was struck by a white GMC Canyon and pinned beneath the vehicle.

The pickup was a GM-owned company vehicle, according to the family’s attorney.

The case took another turn this month when General Motors filed a countersuit against the teen’s parents. However, the automaker withdrew that countersuit Tuesday afternoon.

“I thought was already dead at that point,” Do said. “Even under the car I felt like I was already gone, and I couldn’t really do anything about it. I was just lying there, accepting it.”

The crash left the teen with multiple injuries, including six broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung and a bruised liver.

More than a year later, his mother, Bich Nguyen, said the moment she learned about the crash remains vivid.

“All in my mind is praying he’s still alive; that’s all my emotion. Even now, you’re still able to feel it,” Nguyen said.

The family recently watched the crash video together for the first time.

“I can’t describe the feeling to see actually what happened to my kid,” Nguyen said.

Earlier this year, the family filed a lawsuit against both the driver and General Motors. Attorney Lawrence Kajy, who represents the family, said they are seeking damages for pain and suffering.

“This car was actually owned by GM and was driven by an employee who GM gave that car to as an employee perk, if you will,” Kajy said.

He argues the crash had a lasting impact on the teen’s life.

“Because GM owned the car, there is an owner’s liability statute in Michigan, also negligent entrustment action for GM for giving a car to someone who was negligent and caused the accident,” Kajy said.

“This is essentially how your life changed after the accident, and in this case, the teen was stuck under a car for 15 minutes until a firefighter had to hijack the car to get him out,” he added.

General Motors originally pushed back against the family’s claims, arguing the teen was riding an e-moto rather than an e-bike.

The distinction is significant because GM contends an e-moto requires registration and licensing and cannot legally be operated by someone under 18.

In a statement, GM said:

“We are grateful that everyone involved is safe and send our well wishes to the entire family. We believe it is important to continue conversations about how children and teens can stay safe when riding e-bikes and similar motorized vehicles, and will respect the legal process as this matter proceeds through the court.”

Kajy disputes GM’s characterization, saying the vehicle was a Class 3 e-bike with a motor under 750 watts.

According to Troy police, Class 3 e-bikes are treated similarly to bicycles and are permitted on sidewalks. Riders must be at least 14 years old and wear a helmet.

Police did not cite the teen, although he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Kajy said the teen entered the crosswalk with the walk signal. The driver, meanwhile, was cited for careless driving.

The driver’s attorney declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

As the legal battle continues, Nguyen said she hopes others will take the story as a reminder to stay alert and speak up when something isn’t right.

“I want to send a message to everybody out there: just be careful, and at the same time, have a voice,” she 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 Faraz Javed, Matt Dale

Click here for updates on this story

    HAMTRAMCK, Michigan (WXYZ) — Nearly a year after Hamtramck voters went to the polls, the city still does not have a settled mayor.

Last Friday, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers counted 37 long-disputed absentee ballots as per a court order. Two were write-in votes, but 29 of them went to challenger Muhith Mahmood. Just 6 went to current Mayor Adam Alharbi. That count could flip one of Michigan’s closest races.

But now there’s a request for a recount, suggesting the fight is far from over.

Hamtramck resident Zakaria Abdulmalek is concerned about the uncertainty.

“If they go back and forth about elections, it’s most likely going to be a continuous thing,” Abdulmalek said.

Representing Mayor Adam Alharbi, attorney Nabih Ayad says he filed for a recount Monday, aiming to prove that the newly counted ballots were tainted from the start. “We are asking for a recount,” Ayad said.

“They came two days after the election was closed. They were open is also another violation. The fact that they were on an unsecure area, that’s in violation as well,” Ayad said.

But Alharbi’s challenger, Muhith Mahmood, says he is not surprised by the appeal. The former city council member believes the integrity of the votes was never a question or else they would not have been counted.

“He should have been happy he got free one year almost. If this ballot was counted at the beginning, we don’t have to go through all this process,” Mahmood said.

Last November, 37 absentee ballots were found in the City Clerk’s office. But at the time, the Wayne County Board of Canvassers chose to exclude them. That decision set off the legal battle that is still playing out today.

When I asked Mahmood what he would do next if those ballots are recounted and they don’t turn out to be in his favor, he expressed confidence in the count.

“I don’t see any confusion there because this ballot was very sincerely looked over,” Mahmood said.

Oakland University associate political science professor Nicole Mathew says this is an unusual situation.

“Well, I think it’s pretty clear that the courts are going to have to decide what happens because I don’t think either of these candidates are backing down,” Mathew said.

That’s because the 37 ballots aren’t the only issue still hanging over this race. Alharbi’s legal team is also challenging Mahmood’s residency. A hearing on that question is set for Thursday.

When I asked Mahmood if he was confident the matter would be cleared up on Thursday, he pointed to his ties to the city.

“You see, this is my house. I live here. I pay taxes here. And before running for mayor. I was on counsel for four years,” Mahmood said.

“Having an address in the city of Hamtramck does not qualify you to sit there and run for office. Basically, his wife lives in Troy. His children live in Troy,” Ayad said.

Meanwhile, based on how things are going, Mathew says she won’t be surprised if this drags until the end of Mayor Alharbi’s current term.

“Courts are not fast. They like to get all the details correct, so it could drag on for a while. And if one of the candidates were to concede, then that would solve it. But it looks like they’re both dug in,” Mathew said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ’s 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 Monique John

Click here for updates on this story

    CONYERS, Georgia (WUPA) — Desiree White says she never thought she would become a mechanic. But when she left her health care career in 2019, she had been exploring the trade for a few months, buying, selling and gradually learning to repair cars on the side with her children.

“We started doing big, big jobs just to test ourselves and learn and really found that it was just so much drive and completing something and starting it back up. And it’s not explainable,” White said. “The feeling that you get as a person being able to accomplish something like that, especially without formal training.”

In 2021, White bet on herself, earned her certification and launched her mobile mechanic business, Crown’s Corner Mechanics. She repaired cars across metro Atlanta before a customer encouraged her to open a shop and lent her the money to move into the building.

White has since gained more than 160,000 followers on TikTok while documenting her journey.

“At first, you know, you think that you’re going to get so much backlash because you’re a female doing a man’s job, and that’s not the norm even still in this day and age. And to see that everybody was like, ra ra ra, let’s go. Let’s see what else you can do. I mean, it’s been pretty amazing,” White said.

Her son, Dakota Curry, said his mother’s venture has boosted his confidence.

“With how different the world is now compared to 20 years ago when our parents were working and getting their jobs and going to college, there’s a lot more opportunities for trades. I mean, mechanics, they’re not going to go anywhere. We’re going to have cars all the time,” Curry said.

To help develop the next generation of skilled workers, White launched the Pro-Tech Pathway Foundation, a nonprofit offering hands-on workforce training for people interested in the automotive industry.

Jeremiah Durden was working at Chipotle when White took him under her wing.

“And then I made the jump and probably like one of my best decisions of my life. I love my job,” Durden said.

As a mechanic, Durden said, he is constantly learning something new.

Though it took White five years to get into the building, she said this is only the beginning.

“We have to own it. We have to expand and we have to bring in more businesses,” White said.

She envisions bringing together businesses to offer customers a one-stop shop and create more opportunities for people pursuing careers in the trades.

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 La’Tasha Givens

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — In an era defined by fast-paced digital screens and disposable technology, the intricate craft of repairing mechanical antique clocks is becoming a rare and delicate discipline. But for master horologist Ricky Weigand, it is a daily calling dedicated to keeping family histories alive, one tick at a time.

A horologist is a highly trained specialist, skilled in the science of measuring time and servicing complex mechanical movements. Weigand spends much of his time on house calls, reviving cherished heirlooms that have long fallen silent.

Recently, Weigand visited the home of Regina and Van to service a 40-year-old grandfather clock that had stopped chiming. Handcrafted by an artisan in South Carolina, the clock holds deep personal significance for the couple.

“The gentleman who built the clock, he built many, many clocks, but the first he built was for Van’s parents, and the last one he built for us,” Regina said.

Van considers the timepiece the centerpiece of their home. “We’ve love it, and for Regina, this is one of her prized possessions,” he noted. “It just really sets the tone when we have people come over here, friends and people in our church. Nobody walks in this house without coming in and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, what a beautiful clock.'”

When the clock’s steady rhythm and chimes finally went quiet, Regina knew it was time to call for a specialist. “I couldn’t wait to get them out here; I wanted Ricky out here as soon as possible.”

Restoring a grandfather clock requires methodical focus. Every adjustment directly impacts whether the delicate internal melody can properly strike again.

To begin the overhaul, Weigand disassembled the clock on site, carefully detaching the heavy weights and unhooking the pendulum.

“The front and the back are where the oil is stored in the bushings,” Weigand explained during the process. “Those are the pieces that need to be cleaned off and re-oiled.”

Over the course of the repair, Weigand systematically fine-tuned every component, including:

Cleaning and re-lubricating aged brass bushings Inspecting and aligning each brass gear tooth and barrel Balancing the tension springs Calibrating the moon dial, which features markings numbered 1 through 29½ to track the lunar cycle For Weigand, the technical labor often yields an emotional reward.

“I’ve had clocks that it’s been 5, 10 years since the last time they heard a chime,” Weigand said. “And you know, when it starts chiming, I’ll get tears, or I’ll get stories of where they were, when they were…”

About an hour into the repair, the work was complete. After reassembling the housing, the pendulum swung freely, and the familiar chimes echoed through the house once more.

“It just makes a home seem alive,” said Regina.

While horology businesses often maintain dedicated storefronts, mobile technicians remain vital to the preservation of these instruments. Grandfather clocks are exceptionally fragile; even moving an assembled clock across a room can bend delicate escapements, knock movements out of alignment, or cause pendulums to damage fragile internal components without professional disassembly first.

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 Laurie Perez

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Protesters gathered outside of Long Beach City Hall on Tuesday, days after video captured the moments a local man’s arm was broken during an encounter with immigration agents over the weekend, to demand more action from city leaders.

“They broke someone’s arm; we’re lucky it didn’t escalate further,” one resident said during Tuesday’s city council meeting, during which the protesters continued to voice their concerns and demands for ICE to get out of Long Beach.

“Immigrant communities deserve to be here, they helped build this country, and it’s absolutely upsetting that this can happen in a state like California,” said Ernesto Huerta, a labor organizer.

Video from Saturday’s encounter, captured via one onlooker’s cellphone, shows ICE agents on top of Ricardo Gonzalez, a former city worker and U.S. citizen, as he screams in pain and tries to tell them that his arm is broken.

In a statement on Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security officials said that Gonzalez was arrested after he allegedly smashed the mirror of a government vehicle as “anti-ICE agitators” threatened officers and “attempted to impede” their attempts to arrest an “at-large criminal illegal alien.”

“I think it’s awful. I mean, it’s clear from the video that he was riding his bike down the street, and these guys were speeding down a one-way street,” said Long Beach resident Stacie Straw. “He broke their mirror because they ran over him. They collided with him.”

DHS officials say they are investigating charges against Gonzalez for the damage to their SUV.

Meanwhile, Long Beach city leaders have taken to social media to speak out against the encounter.

“Another terrible abuse of power by ICE in our streets,” said a statement from Senator Adam Schiff. “How many more citizens will suffer abuse or die from ICE actions before Republicans in Congress can be convinced to help rein in this out-of-control agency?”

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson has also filed a formal complaint against DHS, demanding accountability and an independent investigation.

Some residents say they need more from leaders.

“The situations that we’re put in nowadays, it could be any of us. It doesn’t matter if you’re documented, undocumented,” said Viviana Aguilera.

A GoFundMe for Gonzalez, organized by his daughter, says he’s still being treated for serious injuries.

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.