Community rallies behind teacher hit while helping stranded driver

By Brett Kast

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    MACOMB COUNTY, Michigan (WXYZ) — A Macomb County teacher is recovering in the hospital after being hit by a truck while trying to help a stranded driver in St. Clair County.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jesse Siress, a welding and manufacturing teacher at Sterling Heights Stevenson High School, was driving with his family when they spotted a man pushing a stalled vehicle alone on County Line Road near 26 Mile Road. They pulled over and Siress got out of his car to help. As he crossed the road to the other car, an oncoming truck hit him.

“It just came out of nowhere. I was there and next thing you know, I was like woah,” Siress said.

His wife, Kristen Siress, and their daughter were in the car heading to a dance competition and witnessed the crash.

“Extremely traumatizing. I still think about it and I’ll never be able to unsee what I saw,” Kristen Siress said. “I was just screaming. I was just in shock and so was my daughter.”

Four days and multiple surgeries later, Jesse Siress remains hospitalized in good spirits with multiple broken bones, including a severe break in his arm.

“This arm was completely sheared through the bicep there, right arm” Jesse Siress said, while making a joke about the humerus bone break not being very “humerous.” “That one was a clean break that popped out of the skin.”

Friends, family and current and former students have rallied to support the teacher. His friend, Eric Coy, started a GoFundMe over the weekend to help with expenses. As of Tuesday evening, the fundraiser surpassed $14,000.

“It was 50 bucks, then I sneezed and it was 600 and then I blinked and it was two grand,” Coy said. “Because of the way he cultivates relationships, because of the way that he is involved with his family and his community and his profession, people gravitate to that, and that’s 100% all it was.”

“It’s been a blessing to know we have all these people out there helping us get through this,” Kristen Siress said. “We could’ve lost him, and I don’t know what we would’ve done without him.”

Jesse Siress faces a long road to rehabilitation and recovery. He is sad to miss the end of the current school year but remains hopeful he will return for the next.

“Really bummed out I cant help them finish the year because we have senior capstone stuff going on right now, so it hurts my heart a little bit,” Jesse Siress said. “I mean, I’m broken, but my spirit’s not broken.”

Jesse Siress hopes the incident leads to safety improvements, noting the intersection lacks sidewalks and crosswalks, and hopes it can be made safer.

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.

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NYPD narcotics dog that ingested fentanyl on the job saved by Narcan, detective says

By Ali Bauman

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — An NYPD narcotics canine is back on the job after a near-death experience during a drug bust.

Here’s what happened to Mulk Mulk is a very good girl who is very good at her job. CBS News New York recently got to see her practice her drug-sniffing skills at the police canine training facility in Brooklyn. Alongside her, as always, was her partner, Det. Katherine Gill.

“She loves to go to work. I think she’s the hardest-working detective we have some days,” Gill said. “We are together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She’s with me more than my children, honestly.”

The pair were working a drug bust earlier this month, when DEA and NYPD investigators followed Mulk’s nose to more than 40 kilos of fentanyl hidden in apartments in the Bronx and Manhattan.

“It wasn’t until we got back to the precinct that I checked on her, offered her some water, and that’s when I realized we were in trouble,” Gill said.

Narcan saved Mulk’s life, her partner says The detective said Mulk’s pupils were like pinpoints, she couldn’t walk, and wasn’t responding to her commands. So the detective made the snap decision to administer Narcan.

Gill explained how Narcan was given to Mulk, saying, “You take her snout and I would hold her nose shut with one thumb, administer in this one. Then we switch, and I hold it shut on this side, and give her the Narcan on this side.”

She said the life came back to Mulk’s eyes within five minutes.

It’s unclear how Mulk ingested the fentanyl during the takedown. Since it was powder, she could have inhaled it or ingested it through her paws.

“If I hadn’t gotten out of the truck and gone to check on her, who knows what would have happened to her,” Gill said.

Gill was able to save her partner’s life by following her own animal instincts.

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4 people rescued from Detroit River after boat overturned

By WXYZ Web Staff

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Four people on the Detroit River were rescued late Tuesday morning after their boat overturned, 7 News Detroit has learned.

The incident happened just after 11 a.m. on the river near the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Bob Grimes, one of the people who rescued one of the men in the water, said he dragged one of the men into the back end of his boat and then the Coast Guard and other agencies showed up.

Grimes said that the river was “rough” with water coming over his boat.

Detroit police confirmed to 7 News Detroit that they assisted in the rescue and that there were no injuries.

Video from Chopper 7 showed several boats, including the U.S. Coast Guard, and emergency crews at the Delray Boat Launch, which is off Jefferson near the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

Officials haven’t said how the boat overturned.

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Calhoun County coroner confirms Piedmont 10-year-old stabbed to death

By Lisa Crane, Taylor Lang

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    PIEDMONT, Alabama (WVTM) — The Calhoun County coroner confirmed on Tuesday morning that 10-year-old Katheryn Aliceanna Bigbee was stabbed to death.

On Friday night, police found her body with multiple stab wounds. Now another juvenile is charged in her death.

Police Chief Nathan Johnson said this started as a missing person case.

“The parents heard something, and they couldn’t find one of the children inside the home. And so they went outside to look. And that’s how it came in as a missing person. They ended up finding a female with extensive injuries, appeared to be deceased,” Johnson said.

The small town of Piedmont in Calhoun County is reeling. She is described by her teachers as joyful and spunky.

Even residents who did not know Bigbee or her family said they’re heartbroken.

Avery Gowens said, “We’re helping each other through this because this is very traumatic for the family. What they went through, and we want to do everything we can to help them. We also want to make sure, like helping the community and helping them know the community is there for them, and helping everyone in the community also that we’re here for each other as well.”

Residents said Piedmont is a quiet, small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone. They describe it as safe. But they added, they’ve been through a lot over the past several months and experienced too much loss.

Jerry Stewart is the President of the Piedmont Ministerial Association.

He said, “Last year, we lost two sisters in Spring Garden in a car accident. We’ve lost a senior in Piedmont already this year in a car accident. Now, this tragedy, we just, we need a lot of prayer support, spiritual support.”

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Widespread fires prompt burn bans, evacuation orders in Southeast Georgia

By Graham Cawthon

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — Heavy smoke hanging over parts of southeast Georgia on Tuesday served as a reminder of how dangerous fire conditions have become across the region.

According to Glynn County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, smoke seen in the area Tuesday was tied to a large brush fire in Brantley County and a separate 9,000-acre wildfire in Clinch County.

Tuesday afternoon, another wildfire was reported in Appling County, in the area of Zoar Road. Officials urged drivers to avoid the area.

“We ask that you pray for the brave men and women fighting this fire,” the Baxley-Appling County Chamber of Commerce posted on social media.

Those fires were in addition to a separate wildfire within the training area at Fort Stewart, though officials said there were no impacts to personnel or infrastructure.

Officials said the fires underscore the growing wildfire threat across southeast Georgia as dry conditions persist and rain remains out of the forecast.

Widespread threat

According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, crews responded to 46 new wildfires on Monday alone, burning 1,080 acres statewide.

This does not include the Clinch County fire, which has grown to an estimated 8,911 acres and was last said to be 10 percent contained.

Evacuation orders

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Brantley County brush fire led to road closures Tuesday afternoon, shutting down U.S. 82 and SR 110 “until further notice.”

By 3:30 p.m., the brush fire was estimated at 1,000 acres. Evacuation orders had been issued for multiple neighborhoods, including Warners Landing, Oaks Woodlands, Atkinson Road, Godberry Lane, Brushing Creek, Fort Mcintosh to Highway 520 on both sides of the road and Browntown Road and Hawks Landing.

Bulloch County enacts burning limits

In Bulloch County, commissioners approved an ordinance temporarily restricting the open burning of yard debris in unincorporated areas beginning Wednesday. County leaders said prolonged dry weather has increased the risk of wildfires and uncontrolled fires, threatening public safety, property and natural resources.

The ordinance prohibits residents from burning leaves, limbs, grass and other vegetative debris outdoors. Exceptions include controlled burns by government agencies or authorized personnel, cooking fires in approved grills or fire pits, and agricultural or forestry burns conducted under a valid Georgia Forestry Commission permit.

Violations in Bulloch County can bring penalties of up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both. The ordinance will remain in place until drought conditions improve and county commissioners formally rescind it.

Garden City, Glynn County burn bans

Garden City also has issued a temporary burn ban, citing elevated fire danger, dry weather, low humidity and an increased risk of uncontrolled outdoor fires. The city’s order bans open burning of yard debris, trash, land-clearing burns, bonfires and recreational fires. Cooking fires are still allowed if they are attended and proper extinguishing equipment is available.

Glynn County officials said their burn ban also remains in effect and will continue for the foreseeable future because of persistently dry conditions and no expected rainfall over the next 10 days. Officials warned that even small, routine outdoor fires could quickly get out of control.

Under the Glynn County burn ban, all yard debris burning and the discharge of personal fireworks are strictly prohibited.

Officials across the region are urging residents to avoid any activity that could spark a fire, properly dispose of smoking materials and report fires immediately.

Governor speaks

On Tuesday evening, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp posted the following statement on his X account:

“My office and I are working closely with the Georgia Forestry Commission to respond to the increasing threat of wildfires in South Georgia.

If you are in a directly affected area, please adhere to guidance from your local officials to keep you and your family safe.”

South Carolina threat

Further north, the Palmetto State is currently under a statewide burn ban.

On Tuesday afternoon, the City of Hardeeville reported that a brush fire inside Hilton Head Lakes was causing smoky conditions and warned drivers to use caution in the area.

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Derrick Todd, doctor accused of rape, assault of patients, faces 81 new charges, Suffolk County DA says

By Veronica Haynes

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — A Massachusetts doctor who was previously indicted on charges he raped or assaulted more than a dozen patients is facing more than 80 new charges, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Dr. Derrick Todd, 52, of Wayland, is a rheumatologist who formerly practiced at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Faulkner Hospital in Boston.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said Tuesday that a grand jury indicted Todd on 81 new charges involving 22 victims aged 17 to 56. The charges include 21 counts of rape, 59 counts of indecent assault and battery and one count of assault with intent to rape.

“Make no mistake, the allegations contained in these indictments outline serial sexual crimes that have little or no equivalent in the history of Suffolk County,” Hayden said. “Simply put, the scale of victimization and the magnitude of trauma left in the wake of these allegations is something we have never encountered.”

The incidents allegedly occurred at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain and at the Hale Building of Brigham and Women’s in Boston between 2017 and 2023.

“He preyed upon their vulnerability. Dr. Todd violated and betrayed their hope and trust. Time after time after time, he did so in ways that are quite simply, almost unimaginable,” Hayden said.

Todd will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on a date to be determined.

Mass General Brigham said it “first reported Dr. Todd to law enforcement” during the hospital’s internal investigation, after receiving anonymous complaints.

“We are deeply distressed to learn of the depth and breadth of harm reflected in these new indictments,” Mass General Brigham said in a statement. “We will continue to provide support and respond to our patients’ needs during this challenging time.”

Todd’s defense attorney said as of Tuesday afternoon, the office had “not received any information from the DA’s office about the details of these charges, so we are not able to comment at this time.”

Last month, Todd was indicted in Middlesex County on three counts of rape and 17 counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. The charges involve 11 victims, ranging in age from 20 to 60.

Todd conducted unnecessary and excessively prolonged pelvic and breast examinations, performed procedures for which he lacked appropriate training or certification, and engaged in conduct that was outside the accepted standards of medical care, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

Todd was accused of sexually assaulting patients between 2021 and 2023 while acting as a rheumatologist and primary care physician at Charles River Medical Associates. In 2025, Todd pleaded not guilty to charges he raped two women during medical exams at the Framingham office.

In March, Todd’s attorneys denied the allegations.

“These are just allegations, and no finder of fact has determined that our client is guilty of any crime. We look forward to receiving the details surrounding these new allegations and we intend to vigorously defend our client’s innocence,” Todd’s attorneys Ingrid Martin and Liana LaMattina said in a statement.

“We are deeply troubled and saddened by these disturbing incidents and recognize the courage it took for these patients to come forward,” a Charles River Medical Associates a spokesperson said in a statement. “Over the past two years, we have reached out to patients to provide them with an opportunity to report any concerns they have about care they received from Dr. Todd, and we remain committed to keeping these channels of communication open.”

More than 270 former patients are plaintiffs in a class-action civil suit that is moving forward against Todd and his superiors, according to lead counsel Bill Thompson of Lubin & Meyer. Todd has denied the allegations.

In 2025, several of Todd’s former patients called for Massachusetts lawmakers to pass a bill that would require trained chaperones to be offered for all sensitive medical exams unless a patient declines them.

The women believe a chaperone could have protected them from the sexual violence after they say they were tricked into giving their consent to undergo pelvic exams because Todd told them it was medically necessary.

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Nonprofit teams up with the Hawks to give metro Atlanta kids the gift of clear eyesight

By Monique John

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    ATALNTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Maxwell Mills says he knew something was wrong with his eyesight when it started interfering with his ability to read and get his work done in school.

“It was just really difficult and kind of irritating to me because I like to do math equations,” Mills said. “And I like reading, and when I tried to read a book, it was very blurry…”

That’s why a group of organizations stepped in to help. The nonprofit Vision to Learn is leading an effort alongside the Atlanta Hawks to donate thousands of free glasses and eye exams at schools and libraries in the metro in what’s called the Atlanta Vision Project.

The nonprofit said that in Georgia alone, it has given away 50,000 pairs of glasses to children in need over the past eight years to help fight illiteracy and poor academic performance. Its goal is to give away another 50,000 pairs to kids around Atlanta over the next three years.

Mills received a free eye exam and one of these glasses alongside more than 100 other children at his school, Fairburn’s E.C. West Elementary School in March.

“If kids can’t read by third grade, they’re not at grade-level reading,” Ann Holister, the president of Vision to Learn, said. “Studies show that they’re four times as likely to drop out of high school. So, this is an intervention that’s proven to work.”

Now that he’s seeing things clearly, Maxwell says he’s gotten back to enjoying his favorite graphic novels and chapter books. He even says he likes to brag about his glasses during recess.

“When I win a game, they’re like ‘How did you win so fast?'” Mills said. “It’s because I can see.”

Maxwell’s dad says they are thankful for the program.

“With everything rising, inflation, it just, that’s one less thing to burden me and my wife as parents, to worry about glasses, because glasses are expensive,” Michael Mills said.

Maxwell says his new glasses have boosted his confidence through making it easier to check his work.

He sees himself differently and more clearly, too.

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Leflore County Sheriff identifies deputy killed in eastern Oklahoma ambush

By Addison Kliewer

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    Oklahoma (KOCO) — A deputy killed in an eastern Oklahoma ambush was identified on Monday.

The LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Deputy Thomas “Walker” LeMay died on Sunday while conducting a welfare check at a home along U.S. Highway 720 near Wister. An officer with the Wister Police Department was also injured in the shooting.

OSBI officials said someone opened fire on law enforcement, and officers returned fire. The gunfight lasted for hours before the suspect finally surrendered around 4 p.m. Sunday.

LeMay was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The police officer was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Edgar Lara, was treated for minor injuries and booked into the LeFlore County Jail.

LeMay was a father to “his most precious baby girl,” according to the sheriff’s office.

LeMay’s patrol vehicle was placed on the front lawn of the LeFlore County courthouse for anyone wishing to honor him with decorations.

“During this horrendous incident, this office has been shown great love, support, and deep appreciation from our community, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and citizens as a whole. Your prayers, kind words, and acts of service have not gone unnoticed, and we are truly grateful during this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said. “We ask that you continue to keep Deputy LeMay’s family, friends, and brothers and sisters in blue in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate the days ahead. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and his legacy of service and dedication will live on through all of us.”

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Warsh Defends Fed Independence, Signals Overhaul in Confirmation Hearing

By Juliegrace Brufke | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — WASHINGTON – Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, testified before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, defending his independence from the White House and calling for sweeping changes to how the central bank operates.

Warsh argued the Fed’s slow response to inflation in recent years was a serious policy failure and said he would pursue what he called a “regime change” if confirmed, including a new inflation framework and changes to the Fed’s communication practices. He would not guarantee the current eight annual meetings would continue and declined to commit to holding a press conference after each one.

“Right now, Fed chairs and other central bankers around the FOMC, they speak quite frequently. There was no lack of transparency. But I would say this, I think truth seeking is more important than repetition,” Warsh told lawmakers. “If a press conference were held, I think it would be incumbent to hear what the reporters of the day had in mind.”

Democrats on the committee pressed Warsh repeatedly on whether he could remain independent from a president who has publicly demanded rates as low as 1% and encouraged a Justice Department investigation of sitting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns on a building renovation. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told Warsh that Trump wants the Federal Reserve to artificially boost the economy for political reasons and questioned whether any nominee could withstand that pressure.

The sharpest exchange centered on reports that Trump privately told Warsh he wanted interest rates cut before his confirmation, which Warsh denied.

“The president never asked me to predetermine, commit, fix, decide on any interest rate decision in any of our discussions, nor would I ever agree to do so,” he told the committee.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told Quincy News the conflicting accounts put the Fed’s credibility at risk regardless.

“We have to protect the independence of the Federal Reserve,” he said. “It threatens me that we have public reporting that the president told Kevin Warsh he wanted to see interest rates cut, and that Kevin Warsh under oath said that did not occur. So someone is lying right now. Either Kevin Warsh just lied under oath or the president is lying. Either way, it doesn’t help build the credibility of the Federal Reserve.”

The hearing comes one week before the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets April 28-29, and Powell’s press conference on April 29 is expected to be his last as Fed chair. Powell has said he would remain in place on a temporary basis if needed.

While Republicans are broadly expected to support Warsh in a confirmation vote, he faces some hurdles along the way.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has said he does not want to see a vote until the Justice Department drops its criminal probe against Powell, an investigation ostensibly over cost overruns on the Fed’s headquarters renovation that a federal judge has already moved to block.

Tillis made clear his objection is not with Warsh personally, telling the nominee, “Let’s get rid of this investigation, so I can support your confirmation.”

With Republicans holding only a 12-10 majority on the Banking Committee, Tillis has enough leverage to stall the nomination before it reaches the full Senate floor.

Other Republicans were unambiguous in their support. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) told Quincy News that he believes Warsh is the right choice.

“Kevin Warsh understands the importance of keeping inflation low and making sure our economy works for working people,” he said. “He is highly qualified for this role and we need to confirm him ASAP.”

Senior sources close to the process tell Quincy News they believe Warsh will ultimately be confirmed despite the obstacles.

Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said she doubts Warsh could quickly move the 12-member FOMC to cut rates, noting that a majority of members remain reluctant to act while inflation remains above the 2% target.

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Cape Cod researcher says newly found 1949 whale recording is critical discovery: “I’m getting goosebumps”

By Jacob Wycoff

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — More than 76 years ago, a research team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was working in the Atlantic Ocean near Bermuda when they lowered a microphone into the ocean. What they recorded that day would sit quietly in storage for decades.

At the time, no one knew exactly what they were hearing. The audio was etched onto a thin plastic disk using equipment originally designed for office dictation, labeled simply “fish noises,” and filed away in the archives.

Dr. Ashley Jester, who oversees these archives now, said the recordings were easy to miss. They were buried in boxes, very nondescript with their labels. Then researchers gave a modern listen to an old mystery. What Jester heard was not fish. It was a humpback whale.

“I hit play on that WAV file and it was goosebumps. The recording starts, and the voice comes on, and he says ‘It’s the 7th of March, 1949, a little note about the hydrophone, and then you hear the plop. And then right there is the song. I’m getting goosebumps right now thinking about it,” Jester said.

Scientists now believe it could be the oldest recorded whale song ever discovered.

Whale recording from 1940s The find is remarkable not only because of its age, but because it offers a rare snapshot of what the ocean may have sounded like in the late 1940s.

Back then, underwater recording required bulky equipment, long cables, and systems researchers often built themselves. Today, that technology can fit in the palm of your hand.

Dr. Laela Sayigh, a marine bioacoustics researcher at Woods Hole, said modern hydrophones can record for days at a time using compact digital devices.

But for scientists, this historic recording may be most valuable for what it does not contain.

“To potentially be able to look at the levels of ambient noise, which almost certainly would be much, much lower. Because now, you can hear shipping traffic, seismic exploration,” Sayigh said.

Why noise pollution matters In other words, the ocean is not as quiet as it once was. That matters because whales and other marine mammals depend on sound the way humans depend on sight.

“Considering noise as a pollutant is something that has only kind of recently gotten a lot of attention, but marine mammals as a group really rely on sound. It’s their essential mode. It’s as important to them as vision is to us,” Sayigh said.

Sound helps whales communicate, navigate, find food, and survive. As human activity increases underwater noise, researchers say those natural behaviors may be changing.

And this discovery may be only the beginning.

“There are 212 discs in the collection. So we probably have at least 200 hours of underwater recording,” Jester said.

Hundreds of hours of forgotten sound may now help scientists better understand how ocean life, and the ocean itself, has changed over time.

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