92-year-old heart recipient to compete in poker and trivia at Transplant Games for Team Nebraska

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Mary Nelson

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    BENNINGTON, Nebraska (KMTV) — A 92-year-old Bennington woman is preparing to compete in the Transplant Games in Denver this month, representing Team Nebraska more than three decades after receiving a heart transplant.

Shirley Kramer received her transplanted heart in October of 1991, after a life-changing diagnosis where all other options failed.

“I had cardiomyopathy and it eventually deteriorated the heart,” Kramer said.

“Then my heart filled with blood clots and the doctor said my only chance was a transplant,” Kramer continued.

She waited on a transplant list for 13 months. In her own words, the call came just in time.

“I remember saying, ‘God, if it doesn’t happen soon…’ and I got the phone call that noon,” Kramer said.

To date, Kramer has lived with her transplanted heart three times longer than the average recipient. Her neighbor and friend, Rita Muff, who dedicated her career to healthcare, said she recognizes what that represents.

“She’s so strong. She’s been through so much,” Muff said.

“She celebrates life. There’s no doubt about it. She knows the meaning of life and she celebrates it,” Muff smiled.

The Transplant Games began in 1990 and are held every two years, modeled after the Olympics. States and regions field their own teams. This year, more than 3,000 competitors are expected to participate when the games begin June 18 in Denver.

Kramer is proud to represent Team Nebraska. In past games, she has competed in badminton, table tennis, bocce ball, and cornhole, and more recently in Texas Hold’em and trivia. At the last games, she received the award as the oldest recipient in the field.

To prepare, Kramer has been practicing trivia with friends and neighbors at Ridgewood Senior Living in Bennington.

Kramer credits her donor — a man from Wisconsin — for everything she has experienced in the decades since her surgery.

“Every step I take, everything I do, next to God, is because of that donor,” Kramer said.

“I would not have seen all of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.”

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

‘Failed to protect’: Former student sues Blue Valley School District, alleges ex-teacher sexually assaulted her

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Chloe Godding

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    Missouri (KMBC) — A former high school student in the Blue Valley School District has filed suit against the school district for its role in her alleged sexual assault by a former teacher.

In the lawsuit, the student, referred to as Jane Doe, alleges that the school’s former theater teacher sexually assaulted her in 2018 while she was a student at the school and a minor.

The former teacher allegedly got the student alone while at the school late at night and assaulted her. She then reported it to the administration.

The lawsuit alleges that the district learned this was not an isolated incident, and that the teacher had been sending inappropriate communications to other students.

“The District stands in place of a student’s parents and has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect those individuals when the custodial circumstances limit an individual’s ability to do so,” the lawsuit says.

However, the district reportedly knew or had reason to know of “red flags that (teacher) was unfit or posed a risk of undue harm to the young women at the school.”

The lawsuit says the teacher was criminally charged with sexual battery in 2019 but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

His teaching license was revoked in August 2021 as a result of the assault of Jane Doe.

She is now seeking $750,000 in damages as a result of the district’s “negligence,” and demands a jury trial for applicable issues.

“Defendant put (teacher) in a position of trust and authority over Plaintiff when she was in a vulnerable state as a minor child/student at Defendant’s school,” the lawsuit says.

It also says the district failed to supervise the teacher and “failed to protect” Jane Doe.

The Blue Valley School District shared a statement with KMBC 9, denying allegations of negligence.

“Blue Valley Schools takes all reports involving student safety seriously and acts accordingly. The district denies the allegations that it was negligent in how it dealt with its former employee (who didn’t even work at the school identified in the lawsuit). The district stands ready to defend itself through the appropriate legal channels.”

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3 men face murder charges in connection with Arcadia Lake mass shooting

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Jonathan Greco

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    EDMOND, Okla. (KOCO) — Murder charges have been filed against three men involved in a mass shooting at Arcadia Lake that left one person dead and almost two dozen others injured.

The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office announced that 18-year-old Jaylan Davis and 21-year-old Daviion Wyckoff were charged with first-degree murder for their involvement in the shooting.

A third person, 23-year-old Breonn Morton, faces one count of accessory to a felony—first-degree murder. All three are being held on a $10 million bond.

“My office has filed charges to hold those responsible accountable for the devastating violence that occurred at Lake Arcadia,” Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Zemp Behenna said in a news release. “What should have been a gathering of young people ended in tragedy because firearms were brought into a situation where they never should have been. Avianna lost her life and our community continues to feel the effects. These charges are an important step toward justice.”

A 20-year-old woman, Trinity Brown, was also arrested and charged in connection with the shooting.

She was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication.

Court documents state that she was reportedly seen on camera threatening to kill a victim.

Arcadia Lake Mass Shooting Around 9 p.m. on May 3, 24 people were shot after when a fight led to gunfire during a party at the scissortail campgrounds at Arcadia Lake. The victims were 15-28 years old.

One person, 18-year-old Avianna Smith-Gray, died two days following the shooting.

Police collected approximately 80 spent casings at the crime scene. No suspects were immediately taken into custody, and an investigation led to all four being taken into custody.

“We are grateful to the Edmond Police Department and its detectives for their diligent work, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for their timely laboratory analysis, as well as our prosecution team,” Behenna said. “The hard work, professionalism, and commitment by all involved to move this case forward without unnecessary delay have helped bring us to this point.”

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Twin brothers inspire athletes at Colorado Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Ethan Carlson

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    AURORA, Colo (KMGH) — Twin brothers Kapil and Sunny Bhandaram play tennis for Cherry Creek High School, but this week they are spending their time at Aurora Central High School as camp counselors at Colorado Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

The free camp invites children with physical disabilities from across Colorado to try adaptive sports.

“I love sports, and I love teaching kids, and this is one of the greatest places to do it,” Sunny said. “Every single kid here is so wholesome, so nice, and they love every second that they are here.”

Kapil described the moment campers realize what they are capable of.

“Say they hit a ball over the net, and they’re like, ‘oh my god, I can actually do this’, and they haven’t been exposed to stuff like this their entire lives,” Kapil said. “Seeing that click and that change in their life experiences is just really heart-filling.”

The camp offers a wide range of activities for its participants with sports like swimming, kayaking, tennis, hockey, rugby, basketball, fencing, archery and more.

Liz Feicht is a volunteer coordinator for the nonprofit camp. She said the experience goes beyond athletics.

“It’s just really cool to see the kids develop these friendships throughout the course of a week and throughout the years,” Feicht said.

For the Bhandaram brothers, watching campers discover new sports has been deeply rewarding.

“I think it’s one of the greatest feelings anyone can ever feel to see someone else succeed or see someone else be fulfilled,” Sunny said.

The experience also inspired the brothers to launch their own nonprofit, called Spark Elite. They plan on launching the website next week.

“We didn’t realize that this is the only week in the year that they get to play these sports. We thought, ‘what if they had somewhere to play year round, and they can get better and better, and then keep coming back,’” Sunny said.

Their goal is to make it easier for adaptive athletes to find programs and resources.

“That’s kind of the whole goal of Spark Elite, to advertise and compile everything into a one-stop shop for every adaptive athlete to kind of go there and be able to pick any sport they want,” Kapil said.

The brothers say the kids at camp make their work worthwhile.

“It makes me happy to see them being happy,” Kapil said.

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Cañon City man to face murder charges for baby killing after court of appeals reverses ruling

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Mackenzie Stafford

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    CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — William Jacobs will now face murder charges for allegedly killing 10-month-old Edward Hayes.

The Colorado Court of Appeals reinstated the murder and child abuse charges against William Jacobs on overturning a district court’s dismissal, which had cited “outrageous government conduct” by former 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley. The appeals court ruled that Stanley’s actions, while unethical, did not meet the stringent legal standard for dismissing a case.

On May 21, 2023, emergency services responded to a Motel 6 in Cañon City for an unresponsive 10-month-old boy, Edward Hayes. Hayes was taken to Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, where he later died.

According to the arrest affidavit, William Jacobs was reportedly the last person to have cared for the baby when police responded. He was living with the baby’s mother, Brook Crawford, at the time, and was watching Hayes while Crawford worked.

During an interview with detectives, the affidavit stated Jacobs admitted to biting Hayes on the arm “while playing with him” and hitting Hayes’ head on a door frame while trying to make him throw up a few days earlier. He also said he disciplined Hayes in the same way he’d disciplined his dog and “demonstrated throwing his dog, but used an infant-sized doll to demonstrate lightly throwing [Hayes] onto the bed.”

Jacobs was charged with first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury in connection with Hayes’ death. District Judge Kaitlin Turner had dismissed these charges, determining that Stanley’s public comments to KRDO13 Investigates’ Sean Rice about Jacobs’ guilt, juvenile criminal history, and lewd remarks constituted “outrageous government conduct.”

The appeals court, however, emphasized that while Stanley’s conduct was improper and led to her disbarment, it did not involve the creation or commission of the underlying crime, which is typically required for such a dismissal.

“Linda Stanley had nothing to do with the death of this child. What she did was outrageous. What she did was bad conduct. What she did was unethical. But it doesn’t amount to something that is outrageous government conduct for the purposes of dismissal of a crime,” explained Criminal Defense Attorney Jeremy Loew.

Stanley has since been disbarred for her extrajudicial statements in addition to other ethical violations.

The court clarified that ethical violations, which led to Stanley’s disbarment, are distinct from conduct warranting dismissal of criminal charges.

Legal expert Jeremy Loew noted the rarity of a murder case being dismissed and then reinstated on appeal, contrasting it with cases where prosecutorial errors during trial lead to a new trial.

“Rarely do we see a situation where a case is outright dismissed. And then, the prosecution does something, and it comes back on appeal, where the person needs to be rearrested. And so, I would say this is pretty rare, as opposed to the Letecia Stauch situation, where the prosecution made a mistake during trial. And now Ms. Stauch gets a new trial. This is basically the opposite of that, where the prosecution did something, but it shouldn’t have justified a dismissal. And as a result, the person has to be rearrested,” shared Loew.

Loew also noted that KRDO has done everything right regarding this case.

“We have the First Amendment here. We want our news people to be doing investigations, to be going out there getting the facts, asking the hard questions, seeing if elected officials are going to make stupid comments doing the interviews. And I think KRDO is completely aboveboard on this. And, we’re lucky to have people like Sean and yourself who are out there, like getting elected officials to make fools of themselves,” said Loew.

Loew says District Attorney Jeffrey D. Lindsey, who felt the initial judge made an error, will now prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law, as Stanley is no longer involved.

The appeals court concluded that while Stanley’s comments may have impacted Jacobs’ constitutional rights by heightening public condemnation and potentially affecting jury impartiality, mechanisms exist to mitigate these concerns. The court noted that these concerns must be addressed “at the appropriate time in the proceedings,” listing several means by which a court can ensure a defendant’s right to a fair trial in the face of pretrial publicity.

The Colorado Court of Appeals’ order reverses the dismissal, reinstates the charges against Jacobs, and remands the case to the district court for further proceedings. Jacobs will likely be rearrested and prosecuted.

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.

Oklahoma prepares for potential spread of screwworm pest

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Patrick Talbot

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    Oklahoma (KOCO) — Oklahoma officials say they are prepared to respond if the New World screwworm, recently confirmed in Texas, spreads to ranches in the state.

“Oklahoma has been preparing for an incursion for a very long time at this point, and we’re poised to respond should we see New World screwworm in Oklahoma,” veterinarian Rosslyn Biggs said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the screwworm in a three-week-old calf in South Texas.

“It is simply an insect that lands in a wound and lays eggs that like to eat the flesh around the wound,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.

Experts emphasized that the screwworm does not pose a threat to the nation’s food supply and is not a food safety concern.

“Animals, even should they become infested, once treated and recovered, can safely enter the food supply,” Biggs said.

Officials noted that the pest is most likely to spread when infested animals are moved.

“This fly typically moves great distances because humans move animals. These flies do not fly to new areas on their own,” Rollins said.

To prevent the spread of screwworm, officials are using the sterile-fly strategy that helped eliminate the pest from the United States decades ago.

Biggs explained what Oklahoma ranchers should watch for.

“They’re looking for potential wounds. They’re looking for maggots that may be in wounds,” Biggs said.

Experts also warned that screwworm infestations are not limited to livestock.

“We also want to make sure it’s clear that companion animals can be susceptible to infestation as well,” Biggs said.

Dr. Paul T. Cantey, of the CDC, added, “Although New World screwworm is primarily a pest of animals, it does affect humans as well.”

Biggs advised anyone who suspects an animal may be infested to seek professional help.

“We want them to go to their veterinarian. We want them to communicate with the state veterinarian’s office,” 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.

FBI investigates cyberattack on Iowa’s Karl Auto Group

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Todd Magel

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — The FBI is investigating a cyberattack on Karl Auto Group, the parent company of Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny, that may have compromised the personal financial information of thousands of customers.

Karl Auto Group, the largest car and truck dealer in Iowa, experienced the attack over the Easter weekend, shutting down its systems. Dealer Principal Bret Moyer described the situation as unsettling.

“It’s really frustrating, you know? It’s like you’ve been violated,” Moyer said.

Moyer and his family have operated Karl Chevrolet and Karl Auto Group since 1978. He said the attack disrupted operations when employees arrived at work.

“We came in to work here on that Saturday morning and didn’t have phones, didn’t have computers. And it was pretty alarming,” Moyer said.

The company fears the breach may have exposed sensitive customer information, including names, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, passport numbers and passport images. Karl Auto Group has posted notices on its website and sent emails to affected customers, advising them to take precautions.

Chris Coleman, president of the Iowa Better Business Bureau, praised the company for its prompt response.

“Karl is complimented for notifying people right away,” Coleman said.

Coleman also encouraged customers to take steps to protect themselves.

“I think they should take it serious enough to take the minimum steps to protect themselves. Change passwords. Sign up for notifications from your bank and make sure that people don’t have access to your money,” Coleman said.

Karl Auto Group said there is no evidence so far of misuse of customer or employee personal information. Moyer emphasized the company’s commitment to its customers.

“Our customers are pretty much top of everything we do, and we’ve got to make sure that we take care of them the best that we can. And I feel like we have done that,” Moyer said.

Moyer also confirmed that the dealership did not pay any ransom money to the cyberattacker. He encouraged customers with questions or concerns to reach out to the dealership directly.

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.

Recent Valley murders shine light on teen dating violence

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Kaley O’Kelley

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — Jariah Edwards was just 17 years old and pregnant when she had reportedly been trying to leave her boyfriend. That man is now accused of tracking her down in San Diego last weekend and killing her.

The Valley teen was found with a gunshot wound on Saturday while on vacation in California with her family. She was rushed to the hospital, where she later died. Doctors performed an emergency C-section, and her baby girl remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Trevon Williams, 21, was arrested and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges.

Prosecutors say, if convicted, Williams could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Her friends tell ABC15 she had been desperate to end her relationship with Williams.

“He found her. She wanted to leave him. She wanted to be done with him. This is not what she wanted at all,” a friend said. “She tried to leave multiple times, and he scared her multiple times.”

Friends described her as someone who always made people feel seen, funny, and wanted to be a mom.

Edwards was one of several recent local victims of violence involving young mothers-to-be.

In Buckeye last month, a triple shooting killed one teenager, her unborn baby, and the child of another pregnant teen who was injured in the same attack.

What to know about teen dating violence

These cases are drawing attention to the issue of teen dating violence.

According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in 12 high school students reports experiencing some form of dating violence.

Experts say many cases go unreported due to fears of retaliation.

Warning signs can include:

Extreme jealousy or possessiveness Demanding access to a partner’s phone or social media Constantly monitoring a partner’s location Threats or intimidation after a breakup

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.

City settles fatal police shooting lawsuit for $5.89 million after mother, infant killed

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Andy Alcock

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    INDEPENDENCE, Missouri (KMBC) — A high-profile and deadly police involved shooting in Independence has resulted in an almost $6 million lawsuit settlement.

Independence Police released body cam video showing two officers’ November 2024 confrontation with Maria Pike while she was holding her infant daughter Destinii.

It shows Pike grabbing a knife from her bedroom table, then moving towards one of the officers before he fatally shoots both Pike and the baby.

“This is textbook, literally this is current best practice policing,” said then Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman shortly after the shooting.

Pike’s family clearly disagrees.

The lawsuit petition states the officers identified Pike as an emotionally disturbed person and called for a mental health co-responder for assistance.

The suit states that despite that call, the officers tried to take Destinii away from her mother before the mental health co-responder arrived.

“The female mental health co-responder had arrived to the doorway of the apartment and heard gunshots,” the lawsuit states. “Had the officers waited just a few seconds longer before escalating the situation, the “co-responder” would have intervened and assisted.”

“There was a lot of an opportunity to say, you know, hey, there’s no imminent danger right now. We’re going to step outside and wait for somebody who’s a trained professional to come in and give us assistance,” said Lauren Bonds, an attorney with the National Police Accountability Project. “That kind of crisis response model is only useful when it’s actually used.

Now, the city has agreed to settle the lawsuit for $5.89 million.

More than $900,000 of it is taxpayer money.

On Monday, the Independence City Council agreed to transfer up to $2.7 million from the city’s general fund to a “risk management fund”.

The money is for legal fees and settlements and comes from increased bond issuance fees.

The remaining more than $4.9 million is being paid by the city’s insurance.

“Even though cities pay millions of dollars a year for coverage, what will happen is they’ll say coverage specifically for police will be either overly expensive or you won’t be able to get coverage at all,” said Dan Hobart, a former Independence city councilman.

Hobart is concerned about dozens of settled lawsuits involving the Independence Police Department.

Many of them have involved officers suing their own department.

Hobart said the lawsuits are having an impact on city services.

“Clearly, millions of dollars have come out of the city coffers. And the real big problem is literally what bucket of funds are they coming out of, I literally have no idea,” he said.

Bonds said the Pike lawsuit’s settlement size and short time frame of roughly a year and a half to settle are both unusual.

“I think that is an indication that the city was very concerned about liability and taking the case to a jury,” she said.

The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office declined to prosecute the two officers.

According to a city spokesperson, the two officers no longer work for the Independence Police Department.

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.

Police find ‘explosive materials’ at landscaping company

CNN Newsource on June 5, 2026

By Emily Pofahl

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    WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin (WISN) — West Allis police and the bomb squad responded to Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping near Rogers and Highway 100 on New Year’s Eve, after receiving a report of a man allegedly making bombs inside the business.

The search led to prosecutors charging Joseph Godlewski with one felony count of possessing an improvised explosive device. Officers searched Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping and found what police say were materials to make bombs.

Body camera footage from that day shows officers searching the property, where they found various powders, fuses, glue sticks, a scale, and disassembled bombs with wicks. Investigators photographed the materials, which an expert on Milwaukee police’s hazardous device unit said were consistent with bomb-making supplies, according to court documents.

The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Godlewski, was an employee at the business. Court records show that an anonymous individual told police Godlewski “…was making pipe bombs…” at the site, and claimed to have been given a bomb by Godlewski in July 2025. The individual also alleged they saw Godlewski detonate a bomb behind the business that same month.

Godlewski has been charged with felony possession of an improvised explosive device. He is currently out on bond and awaiting his plea and sentencing hearing next month.

Godlewski declined an interview but told 12 News over the phone that he was not making bombs. When asked what he was doing with the materials, he said, “No comment.”

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