Author: CNN Newsource

By Rachel Williams

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    LAKE WORTH BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, a nonprofit in Lake Worth, is providing care packages to service members deployed in the Middle East as strikes continue to escalate in the region.

Every month, the nonprofit organization sends “We Care” packages to over 5,200 military personnel around the world. Susan Hill, the executive assistant at Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, explained, “The military personnel can either register themselves, family members register them, or what we’re finding is team leaders, chaplains, commanders are registering them. More and more families are registering them because they can’t afford the supplies to send over to their loved ones.”

Hill noted that since the U.S.-Israeli strike operation kicked off the Iran war over the weekend, the organization has been receiving more requests for care packages. “We just had a mother who’s a little panicked because her daughter’s deployment has been extended. We’re finding that a lot of our ships over there are now being extended, so people that we thought were coming home, all of a sudden we’re getting emails from them saying, oh, wait a minute, we’re going to be moving on,” she said.

As the organization prepares for the next shipment, volunteers are packing multiple care packages, specializing the contents based on where the service members are in the world and how many people are receiving the package. For example, if they’re shipping to service members in Poland, they will pack socks due to colder weather temperatures.

Hill explained, “We might have a squad that might have anywhere from 150 to 200 people in it. We’ll include a little bit of as much as what we can in every box. It’ll be a combination, a mixture of different items.”

The majority of shipments are headed to the Middle East, supporting service members in places like Kuwait, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan, and many more. Hill emphasized the importance of supporting troops amid escalating conflict overseas, saying, “There’s nothing like home. I mean, these people are giving up their lives for us. So, it’s really important that we stand behind them and support them.”

The organization announced that the next shipment is scheduled for March 11 and they still need a variety of supplies to send off. Hill said, “We need the travel baby wipes, we need travel toothpaste, we need travel deodorants. The travel tissues are very important. Believe it or not, tampons, they can use those for wound control, they’re not just for women. We need nutrition, we need tuna packets, nutrition bars, things that are going to give them a little extra boost along the way. They can just shove it into their pocket when they need it.”

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 Amy Fleury

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — It has been one year since a Milwaukee girl disappeared.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is asking for help to find Cecillia Mack, who is now 16 years old.

She is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 285 pounds when she was last seen, and has brown eyes and black hair.

Authorities believe that Mack may be in the Milwaukee area.

If anyone has any information about Mack or her disappearance, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST, 800-843-5678 or the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-933-4444.

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 Michelle Meredith

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    SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — At Seminole County Animal Services, adopting a cat is like a job interview.

Potential adopters seek felines with the right qualities, like their willingness to tolerate humans.

So when adopters find that special cat, as Ron Culver did, you take the cat home and give them the sweetest job of all: to love you.

Culver said, “It’s been a little while by myself. So it is nice to go home to something you can have a relationship with. When you live alone, it’s hard.”

But some cats in the shelter want to live alone and are not very adoptable.

Those cats have a whole new job description: “Working Cats.” And their specialty? Killing rodents.

“From the beginning of time, this is a cat’s job,” said Chris Stronko, of Seminole County Animal Services. “So it’s not a bad environment for a cat, or a cruel thing to do, it’s what cats live for.”

Working cats get jobs with people who, for example, own warehouses, greenhouses and farms.

Their adopters must provide food, water, and shelter.

At Saddlewood Stables in Lake County, close to two dozen cats are well-rewarded for their services.

On their off time, they hang out with the horses and dogs, ride on tractors and eat like kings and queens. They’re part of the family.

The “Working Cats” adoption program is not just available in Seminole County, but also at other Animal Shelters in Central Florida.

The program allows a partnership that’s centuries old to live on.

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 Carson Zorn, Kennedy Mason

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    CAPE CORAL, Florida (WBBH) — A Cape Coral man is accused of stealing a car from a gas station after an Apple AirTag led to his arrest Monday.

According to the Cape Coral Police Department, officers responded to the Mobil gas station on Del Prado Boulevard North after a report of a stolen black Jeep Wrangler.

The victim told officers that while he was inside the store, his vehicle was stolen, and that an Apple AirTag attached to his keys later pinged at a residence in the 1800 block of Northeast 20th Terrace, the CCPD said.

Officers responded to the area and located the stolen Jeep in the backyard of a home in the 1800 block of Northeast 21st Street, the CCPD said.

Officers canvassed the neighborhood and obtained multiple home security videos showing a man in a light gray hooded sweatshirt park the Jeep, walk toward the Northeast 20th Terrace home, lift a garbage can lid and enter the front lanai, the CCPD said.

Security footage from the gas station showed a similarly dressed man enter the victim’s Jeep and drive away, according to the CCPD.

Officers then searched the property connected with the AirTag. They found a gray hooded sweatshirt in the lanai that looked similar to the one seen in security footage. Using the AirTag’s alert feature, officers located the AirTag and car keys concealed inside storage bins in the garage, the CCPD said.

Jose Almaguer, who lives nearby, saw about 8 officers searching the backyard of an abandoned home on NE 21st Terrace Monday night. Gulf Coast News watched as a tow truck towed away the black jeep from that home Tuesday.

“They were talking, I think to a neighbor,” Almaguer said. “They wanted to ask him a couple questions.”

He added, “I think technology is helping police out.”

The suspect in the theft was then detained after exiting the residence with a dog and was found wearing beige pants and shoes consistent with what were seen in security footage.

The suspect was identified as Daniel Patrick Sullivan, 47.

Sullivan was arrested and faces charges of burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, grand theft of a motor vehicle and petit theft.

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 Jaylen Baron

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    SANIBEL, Florida (WBBH) — The Sanibel fishing pier at Lighthouse Beach Park is set to be restored after Lee County commissioners approved $2.1 million in funding, bringing hope to the community and tourists who cherish the spot.

Sanibel resident Richard Birney, a long-time fisherman, expressed his excitement about the restoration. “And today we’re celebrating. And we finally got the money to, to be able to rebuild a really robust and resilient pier,” Birney said.

He noted the frustration of seeing the pier in disrepair, emphasizing its importance to the community and tourists. “It was just frustrating to walk down here and see the pier in the shape that it’s in. When we knew it meant so much to the community and in particularly to our tourists, which is one of the core elements of our business here,” he said.

Visitor Mark Burchenough shared his enthusiasm for the pier’s restoration. “Oh, ecstatic. I mean, we love fishing. My family’s all here. We’re all fishing right now. It’ll be a great asset for us to use and enjoy as long as and as well as everyone else,” Burchenough said.

The Sanibel fishing pier isn’t just a place to make a big catch; it’s a place to watch sunsets and enjoy the beautiful view. Years later, money is on the way to fix the pier and get people fishing there again.

Lee County commissioners have committed funds to fix up the pier, and the city looks forward to bringing back this tourist attraction to the island and fixing up another reminder from Hurricane Ian.

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 Emily Pofahl

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — In a Milwaukee auto repair shop lot full of vehicles and full of cameras, a man in an unmarked tow truck stole a car off the business’s property Sunday.

It’s left Diamond Buchanan, a single mom and manager at McDonald’s in Brown Deer, without a means of transportation.

“Just having someone take something from me, it set me back like 10 steps,” Buchanan said.

Buchanan dropped off her red Nissan Murano at Uptop Motoring near 99th Street and Carmen Avenue on Thursday, Feb. 26, and was informed by the shop owner on Monday, March 1, that her car had been towed away.

“What do you mean, my car is gone? My car is paid for. It was never on a note,” Buchanan said.

Her car was not up for repossession and had no outstanding parking tickets. It was parked on Uptop Motoring’s private property.

The business’s surveillance cameras caught a man in a highlighter yellow jacket and pants pulling her car from the lot in a tow truck without plates and without logos, and it has not been seen since.

“I’m worried about having to miss work. I’m worried about my child having to miss school. I’m worried about me not being able to pay my bills because I can’t get back and forth to work,” Buchanan said.

The owner of Uptop Motoring didn’t want to go on-camera with WISN 12 News Tuesday. He did explain, however, that he does not recognize the tow truck or its driver and is cooperating with Milwaukee police. He shared his business’s surveillance video with WISN 12 News and said he also wants the thief caught.

Buchanan feels the shop holds some responsibility for the theft.

“I feel as though my car is left in your hands; you’re still responsible,” she said.

Police have confirmed the crime but have not made any arrests, and do not know who they are looking for yet. Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7242 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips App.

Buchanan is not optimistic about recovering her stolen vehicle and is starting to save for a replacement car.

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 Bryanna Gallagher

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The war with Iran has triggered widespread travel disruption across the globe, canceling tens of thousands of flights and forcing some planes to turn around midair after airports in the Middle East were closed.

One of those flights was American Airlines Flight AA120, which departed Philadelphia just before 7:30 p.m. Friday bound for Doha.

Hours into the journey, passengers learned the flight would not reach its destination.

“I guess 7 hours into our journey, the captain made an announcement, ‘A war has begun, so the airspace has been closed and we need to head back,'” said Aaqil Mujiburrahman, who was traveling with his wife and their two-year-old daughter.

What was supposed to be a trip from Philadelphia with a final destination to Dubai became a 16-hour flight back to Philadelphia.

Mujiburrahman said the plane had already crossed into European airspace before turning around.

“We had just crossed Spain somewhere along Casablanca, you could see the map, Casablanca was close. We made a turn in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.

Passengers later learned mid-flight that the United States had launched an attack on Iran.

Airspace across parts of the Middle East has been closed since the weekend following the attack. Chaotic video verified by ABC News shows a drone hitting near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai. The State Department says all personnel there are safe and accounted for.

After rerouting, Flight AA120 touched down back in Philadelphia late Saturday morning. Mujiburrahman said he was grateful the plane was able to return safely.

“I kept telling my wife we are very grateful we had enough fuel. They made the right decision. The flight had enough fuel to come back all the way,” he said. “That’s the most important part — that we are back home.”

More than 9,000 Americans have made it back from the Middle East, though thousands remain stranded. The State Department told ABC News it is working to secure military aircraft and charter flights to help evacuate Americans still trying to leave the region.

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 Amanda Pitts

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Women are raising concerns in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia after a man has reportedly been aggressively following them and making his way inside apartment buildings.

One woman told Action News she was followed for 15 minutes from Northern Liberties to Fishtown. After she shared her story online, another woman reported a similar encounter with the same man.

Charlie Hudson said she was leaving a workout class Friday night around 8:30 p.m. along North 2nd Street in Northern Liberties when she noticed a man watching her.

“I noticed someone kind of looking at me funny, didn’t think much of it because he crossed the street in front of me. Then by the time I crossed the street, it seemed like he was waiting there,” Hudson said.

She said she had a bad feeling but continued walking.

“He kept looking back at me, and it just kind of kept getting weirder and weirder. Every block, he started mouthing something,” she said.

Hudson said she slowed down, and the man turned onto another street, but she soon saw him again.

“Then by the time I get to Frankford, he’s staring at me from under this construction area, and I just completely go frozen,” she said.

She said she began walking home and realized the man was following her for the entire 15-minute walk.

“I start walking home, he starts following me down Belgrade. I started running as soon as somebody came in between, and he ended up being like right over there at that corner as I was like getting into my building,” Hudson said. “I got in my door, I looked back, freaked out, ran into the elevator, called 911 immediately.”

Hudson described the encounter as terrifying.

“It felt like I was hunted. It was so scary,” she said. “I never really experienced that before, and I was just kind of frozen.”

She filed a police report and officers told her they would increase enforcement at night in the area.

“I was like, ‘Hey are you aware of everything that’s online, that there seems to be some pretty similar incidents?’ And [the officer] was like, ‘Yes, we’re working on it.’ That felt good,” Hudson said.

Hudson described the individual as a man with dark skin, standing about 5-foot-8, wearing a gray sweatshirt, a beanie, dark pants and tennis shoes.

“I just remember the beady eyes. Every time I even leave my apartment, I’m like anxious that he’s at that corner,” she said.

After Hudson posted about the encounter on Facebook, Gina Dinardo said she realized she may have seen the same man just a day later.

“I was on my way home around 3 o’clock in the morning in an Uber from Philadelphia International Airport. I was already nervous that I was alone in the Uber and everything,” Dinardo said. “I was scrolling on Facebook and I saw a post of a girl saying that she was followed home,” she said.

Dinardo, who lives in Northern Liberties, said that when she arrived home, she saw a man matching the description.

“I walked down my hallway, got to my door, was thinking, ‘Wow, this is great, I’m finally home safe, everything’s fine.’ I started putting my code into my door, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone opening my exit stairwell door,” she said.

“I turned around and just see this man standing there, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that is the man from the post that I just read 10 minutes ago,'” Dinardo said.

She said she screamed, ran inside her apartment, and watched through the door’s eyehole as the man lingered outside for several minutes.

“I found out from other residents in my building that he actually spent the night in our building and people saw him in the lobby at 5:45 a.m. when they were on their way to work,” she said.

Dinardo said the encounter left her shaken.

“This happening just took away any feelings of safety that I had there, especially the fact that this was right outside of my door. You make it home to your door, you think you’re safe, you feel like you’re in your safe space. I feel like it’s just been extremely invaded and I’m scared. I don’t wanna be home,” she said.

Hudson said the experience has changed how she feels in her neighborhood.

“I walk down all of these streets all the time. My friend and I tried to walk around a little bit the next day, and I’m not really a fearful person, but I was like very scared every time I saw even just a man alone,” she said.

They hope sharing their stories might lead police to the suspect, and warn other women to be vigilant.

“If you get a bad energy or there’s any pit in your stomach, follow through. There’s something wrong,” Hudson added.

“As a young woman in my late 20s, it’s concerning, especially being out and about and walking by myself at night, that’s definitely something to be cautious of,” neighbor Morgan Taylor said. “When it’s in your own neighborhood, you definitely think, ‘OK, could this happen to me next? ‘”

Philadelphia police said the Special Victims Unit is investigating. They have not yet released any photos or surveillance video of a potential suspect.

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.