Author: CNN Newsource

By Jesse Sarles

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    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — Littleton Public Schools is settling a lawsuit brought by three families for $3 million. It stems from a Littleton bus aide who pleaded guilty to abusing children with autism in 2024.

Kiarra Jones was caught on video in April 2024 hitting a non-verbal student while on the bus. Attorneys for the victims’ families say there were three boys who were abused.

Following the settlement, CBS Colorado received a statement from Jessica Vestal, the mother of one of the victims. It said, in part, “I want to express sincere gratitude to Superintendent Todd Lambert, Deputy Superintendent Melissa Cooper, and board member Lindley McCrary for recognizing the urgency of this situation and acting swiftly.”

It went on to say “We have already begun building a model that other districts can learn from — one that affirms disabled children are worthy of safety, dignity, and protection equal to any other child.”

The settlement will be paid for by the district’s insurance. It says there will be no impact on educational services to students.

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 Lisa Rozner

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — Luigi Mangione, accused in the December 2024 murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to appear in federal court on Friday.

The hearing, which Judge Margaret Garnett said will be brief, is designed to determine whether Mangione’s backpack was lawfully searched when he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Judge Garnett said the hearing will be, “about the established or standardized procedures in use by the Department in December 2024 for securing, safeguarding, and, if applicable, inventorying the personal property of a person arrested in a public place.” The defense argues it was a warrantless search, and has asked the judge to suppress evidence found in the backpack, including a 3D-printed handgun and a loaded magazine, as well as a notebook, map and “survival kit.”

In a lengthy evidentiary hearing in his state trial, Altoona police officers involved in the search of his backpack testified it was their standard procedure to recover property like a backpack from a suspect at the time of his arrest, and a preliminary search of the backpack also would’ve been standard procedure.

The defense also claims Mangione was questioned before his Miranda rights were read.

The government argues everything was done appropriately.

The judge has ordered prosecutors to bring in an Altoona police officer to testify about the department’s arrest procedures, and the witness doesn’t have to be an officer who was at the scene. The order requests an officer with sufficient authority and experience.

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges related to Thompson’s killing, which set off a nationwide manhunt. If convicted on some of the federal charges he faces, Mangione could get the death penalty.

Mangione’s defense team is also trying to get two federal counts against him, including the one that brings the possibility of the death penalty, dismissed.

Jury selection for the trial is tentatively scheduled to start in the fall.

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 Christopher Harris

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    LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia (WUPA) — Four family members were found shot to death inside a Lawrenceville home early Friday after a child inside the house called police to report gunfire, Gwinnett County authorities said.

Officers responded to the call in the single-family community around 2:30 a.m. When they arrived at the house in the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court, they found four adult victims dead inside the home, all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, according to Gwinnett County police.

Corporal Angela Carter said a child inside the home called 911 and reported hearing gunshots. Three children were later found hiding inside a closet. Carter said the children were not injured.

Police confirmed with CBS News Atlanta that all four victims are related in some way to the male suspect, who was found a short distance from the residence and taken into custody without further issues. Investigators believe the shooting was domestic-related. Authorities said there are no outstanding suspects.

A family member came to the home to pick up the children, Carter said. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

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 Kidd O’Shea , Photojournalist Colin Mihalich

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    WAUWATOSA, Wisconsin (WTMJ) — Jesse Hieb has traveled to some of the toughest places on Earth for disaster relief work, staying for months to help people recover and rebuild. But it was during his deployment to Asheville, North Carolina, for hurricane relief that he discovered something that would change his perspective on community building.

“I came across this sauna park called Drip Sauna, and I absolutely fell in love with the community and the culture that they had there,” Jesse said.

The experience inspired Jesse to bring that same sense of community to Wisconsin. He began the process of opening Heat Haven Sauna Park in Hart Park in Wauwatosa, envisioning a space where neighbors could connect and support each other.

Just as Jesse was getting his business plans underway, he was called to respond to another disaster — this time in his home state. In August, flooding hit the Muskego area, and Jesse found himself standing in a neighborhood that had been completely flooded, watching neighbors struggle with the aftermath.

It was at that moment that fate intervened. While surveying the flood damage, Jesse received a text message from the contractor who would build his saunas.

“He said, if you want to actually get this done, you’re going to have to put the deposit down today so that we can get them done in time,” Jesse said.

Jesse turned to his faith and made the decision to move forward with the project. Now, three wood-fired saunas sit in Hart Park, next to the community center where Jesse hopes people will come together.

“I’m getting to listen to people’s stories, everything from a local to a traveler, and they’re asking me about my story,” Jesse said.

The sauna park represents more than just a wellness amenity for Jesse — it’s a tool for building stronger community connections during challenging times.

“My hope is that it opens up a space for dialogue for people to get to know their neighbors, and that’s our hope — that community comes closer together because of this,” Jesse said. “Together we thrive through winter because winter is tough, especially this winter, which is shaping up to be a really tough one to get through, and we’re here to help you get through it.”

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

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    DALLAS (KTVT) — The Dallas Mavericks have narrowed their search for a new arena to two potential locations: downtown or the Valley View Center area in North Dallas. It’s sparking a mix of excitement and concern among fans, city leaders, and local businesses as the team weighs its next move.

“I would hate losing an arena downtown,” said Robert Resneder, a Mavs fan. “It brings so much vitality to the center of the city, but at the same time, I live in the suburb,s so if they were to move somewhere near the north side, I might kind of like that.”

The chatter on the move has a lot of people talking.

“I’m kind of sad about it, I love Victory Park, I love having them here,” said Burt Oliva.

His friend Tony Ruano echoed a similar sentiment.

“If they move this arena, it will be terrible,” Ruano said.

Council member Chad West said no matter what site they decide on, this is a win for Dallas.

“That’s the most exciting part of this whole situation, is that they are a Dallas team, they know that, and this is their home, and they’re going to stay here,” West said.

Dallas mayor pro-tem Jesse Moreno, who represents downtown, where the American Airlines Center currently sits, is pushing to keep the arena in his district. One of the potential sites is the land where City Hall currently sits, though the future of the building is still up in the air.

“Before anything is really evaluating City Hall, and the cost-benefit to stay at City Hall and rebuild, or to look at other options outside of City Hall, and so, that has not happened yet,” Moreno said. “We are still waiting for the results of the assessment of the building itself and the possible economic impact if we decide to go somewhere else.”

A move to Valley View would place the arena near Preston Road and Interstate 635, which Councilwoman Cara Mendolsohn, who oversees that area, said would also benefit southern Dallas.

“We will generate so much additional revenue for this city that we’ll take the budgetary pressure off of things like libraries, will take the budgetary pressure off of our growing payments for the pension, for police, fire, for hiring more officers on our streets,” she said.

Still, some worry that moving the arena out of downtown could hurt local businesses. The Mavericks’ lease with the American Airlines Center is set to expire in 2031. A decision on a new location is expected by July 1.

“They’re not focused on actually winning, they’re focused on the financial aspect of it,” Ruano said.

Some fans say a new arena should be the last of the team’s priorities.

“I think the ownership is ruining our team, honestly, I do not want us to move,” Oliva 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 Andrea Nakano

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    SAN JOSE, California (KPIX) — An arsonist is on the loose in San Jose, and investigators are looking to see if he may be responsible for burning seven cars at five different locations. The cases started in the early morning hours on Wednesday, and the arsonist struck again on Thursday.

Giovanna Velazquez has lived near downtown San Jose for two years. She says from illegal dumping to sounds of gunfire, she’s been more worried about her safety over the last year.

“I don’t feel safe,” she said. “I think there’s been a lot more activity. We’ve heard some gunshots randomly.”

Velazquez lives right next door to El Camino Auto Transmission, where two cars were torched early Wednesday morning. Sergio Salaguero is the owner of the shop and was there at the time of the fire.

“I was in shock,” said Salguero. “This is not normally happens but you know.”

The security camera from his shop captured this footage of the suspect torching two cars on his property. Salguero says this van is a total loss.

“He was driving around,” he said. “Come this way. He tried to burn that car first. Somehow didn’t go off. Then they moved to this car.”

While there is a fire department right across the street, Salguero jumped in right away to try to put out the fire.

“Just got my fire extinguisher, get the fire out,” he said. “The fire department came and they got something else too. They did help a lot.”

The suspect got away on his bike. Investigators are looking to whether if he may also be responsible for setting cars on fire at 5 other locations. Including, outside the A-German Auto parts store on San Jose Avenue and IAM Motors on San Carlos.

“People are insane,” he said. “We cannot stop people doing that. They got problems.”

Velazquez says the arson didn’t impact her directly but hopes police make an arrest soon. She wants to feel safer in her neighborhood and wants more action taken to stop crimes.

“Very frustrated,” she said. “But I mean, it’s hard to move. Why would you want to move?”

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 Chelsea Hylton

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    ALTADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — The first modular home as part of Steadfast LA and Samara’s modular housing initiative was installed in Altadena following the Eaton Fire on Thursday morning.

The Rodriguez family will be receiving the first modular home. On Thursday, the first of three parts of their new home was installed in Altadena and the rest will be completed in the coming weeks.

Mike McNamara, CEO of Samara, said the company builds homes for California consumption. After the January wildfires, he wanted to help survivors of the January wildfires who could not afford to rebuild their homes. He decided to partner with Steadfast LA to provide a viable housing option at no cost to families.

“We’re just super excited, we’re going to get the Rodriguez family back into their home and into their community,” McNamara said.

McNamara pointed out that the homes are fire-resistant and highly sustainable. He added that it can generate its own energy and has an HVAC system that can filter out wildfire smoke.

“It’s really exciting to see,” he said.

Rick Caruso, chairman of Steadfast LA, was also in attendance. He said he formed the foundation after the wildfires with a simple purpose to get people back into their communities as quickly and safely as possible.

“Rosalina lived in this community with her family for 37 years,” Caruso said. “In a couple of weeks, she’s going to be back here.”

So far, nine families will be receiving modular homes. The initiative plans to continue to install more homes throughout 2026. Steadfast LA and Samara are also working with HomeAid OCLA, loanDepot, and Armanino Advisory LLC to provide financial assistance to eligible families.

“Fire victims in Altadena, Malibu, Pasadena and Pacific Palisades who lack the economic resources to rebuild may be eligible for Modular Housing Grants,” according to the Steadfast LA website.

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 Stephanie Stahl

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A Bucks County family is trying to raise awareness about a rare syndrome that has paralyzed their son’s face.

Chalfont, Bucks County, is lit up with purple lights for a brave little boy and the condition he has that impacts nerves in his face.

Four-year-old Jackson Roberts isn’t able to smile on his own because of a condition called Moebius syndrome.

His parents Trish and Chris Roberts say when Jackson was born, even the doctors were stumped.

“It’s a neurological disorder. It’s the paralysis of the face,” Trish Roberts said. “People with Moebius syndrome have difficulty blinking, sucking, swallowing, breathing, eating, and even speaking.

“They weren’t sure if he was ever going to walk or talk or anything like that,” Chris Roberts said.

“We didn’t even know if we were ever bringing him home. And here we are, almost five years into Jackson’s journey, and we believe and we’ve learned that miracles do happen and to keep the faith and don’t let a diagnosis define who you are,” Trish Roberts said.

Jackson Roberts spent years in physical and occupational therapy and is happy to play with his big sister and sing and dance to his favorite song.

“Specialists around the world tell us that he is a medical mystery,” Trish Roberts said.

Doctors don’t know what causes the syndrome that has no treatment. And because it’s so rare – 1 in 4 million – there’s very little research. That’s what the Roberts are hoping to change by raising awareness.

Along with the t-shirts, the Roberts family asked their community to light up Bucks County purple around Jan. 24, Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day.

“It’s been unreal. It’s so overwhelming, it’s so humbling,” Trish Roberts said.

For Jackson Roberts, even without a smile, there’s joy.

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 Christopher Harris

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — A flavor synonymous with Atlanta culture could soon join Georgia’s list of official state symbols.

State Rep. Eric Bell, a Democrat from Jonesboro, has introduced House Bill 1013, a bipartisan proposal that would designate lemon pepper as Georgia’s official state chicken wing flavor. Bell says the idea grew out of a simple realization: Georgia already recognizes dozens of official symbols, and lemon pepper wings have become one of the state’s most recognizable cultural staples.

“If you grow up in Georgia, you learn about all the things we’ve officially designated: the state bird, the peach, butter pecan ice cream, Brunswick stew,” Bell said in an interview. “Lemon pepper is a culinary phenomenon here. When you travel outside Georgia, you notice pretty quickly that not every place even has lemon pepper wings. That’s when you realize how unique it is to the South and to this state.”

Bell described lemon pepper wings as more than just a menu item, calling them a shared experience that cuts across backgrounds and generations. Whether served plain, hot, honey-glazed or mixed with other flavors, he said, the dish brings people together.

“It’s literally a dinner-table conversation,” Bell said. “Sleepovers after basketball games, family dinners, Super Bowl parties … We all have memories of eating lemon pepper wings, arguing about flats or drums, ranch or blue cheese. It’s something Georgians can smile about and be proud of.”

Atlanta’s influence looms large in the bill. Bell pointed to the city’s sports culture, nightlife, and music scene, from arenas hosting Falcons and Hawks games to club kitchens and hip-hop lyrics, as key reasons lemon pepper wings have gained national attention. He noted references in songs by artists such as Gucci Mane and Rick Ross, as well as the flavor’s expansion onto menus at major restaurant chains.

“People all over the country know lemon pepper wings are a Georgia thing,” Bell said. “Whether you’re in Arizona, New York or California, when you hear lemon pepper wings, you think of Atlanta.”

The bill has drawn bipartisan support, with co-sponsors including Reps. Dexter Sharper of Valdosta, Kasey Carpenter of Dalton, David Huddleston of Roopville and Mekyah McQueen of Smyrna. Bell said the flavor’s popularity made it easy to find common ground at the Capitol.

“We’re all human, we all have to eat,” he said. “It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like lemon pepper in some form. Even if they say they don’t like it hot, they’ll tell you they like mild lemon pepper. As long as it’s got the sprinkles on it.”

Some critics have questioned whether symbolic legislation belongs in the General Assembly, but Bell pushed back, noting Georgia’s long list of official state symbols.

“If people don’t think this belongs, then they’d have to say the same about the state song, the state fruit or any of our other symbols,” he said. “We’re working on serious issues, too. But we also need unity. And what better way to bring people together than around the kitchen table?”

Bell said the designation could also boost tourism and local businesses, encouraging visitors to seek out wing spots across the state and sparking friendly competition over who serves the best lemon pepper wings.

“People could come to Georgia and make it a point to try different places,” he said. “It highlights our restaurants and our culture.”

Since introducing the bill, Bell said feedback from constituents has been largely positive, and often playful, with residents debating preferred variations rather than the idea itself.

“Most people are just happy,” he said. “They’re sharing stories, arguing about hot versus mild, or asking why it’s not lemon pepper flats. It’s relatable, and that helps people feel more connected to state politics.”

House Bill 1013 was introduced last week and has not yet received its first committee hearing. Bell said he hopes it will be assigned soon and is encouraging Georgians to show their support as the legislative process moves forward.

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