Charges dismissed for man accused of 2022 deadly shooting of deputy

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Dacoda Wahpekeche

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Charges have been dismissed for a man accused of shooting and killing an Oklahoma County deputy serving an eviction notice in 2022.

Benjamin Plank was accused of ambushing, shooting and killing Sgt. Bobby Swartz while deputies were serving an eviction notice on Aug. 22, 2022, at a southwest Oklahoma City home. Plank was charged with first-degree murder, multiple counts of shooting with intent to kill and using a vehicle to discharge a firearm.

Plank has been through many court proceedings in the years since the shooting, and a judge recently said Plank was incompetent due to a psychosis diagnosis and could not stand trial. There were some concerns in the case surrounding the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Plank’s access to court-ordered medication.

This week, all of Plank’s charges in connection with the deadly shooting have been dismissed.

Swartz’s family recently spoke with KOCO 5, saying there should be justice.

“My father deserves justice. He deserves better than what he’s gotten out of the system,” Austin Swartz said. “He gave 25 years of his life. Mark (Johns) almost gave his life for the same thing. And for that just to be a shoulder shrug – ‘Hey, we’re not going to hold anybody accountable’ – it’s unacceptable.”

While charges have been dismissed, Plank will remain in the state’s custody at a mental health facility.

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Woman pleads no contest in Oklahoma murders of two Kansas women

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Jason Burger

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    GUYMON, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Tifany Adams has pleaded no contest to six of the nine charges against her in connection with the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two Kansas women found in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and will not face the death penalty.

Adams, who is in custody in Texas County, was accused of orchestrating a plot to kill Butler with four other suspects.

“Tifany’s thing was, she hated Veronica; she wanted her out of her life, she wanted her gone, so that she could raise her grandchildren, and the only way to do that, was to eliminate her,” said Ladonna Thompson, Veronica Butler’s aunt.

Since the spring of 2024, Veronica’s aunt, Ladonna Thompson, has been in touch with the media.

New court documents reveal that Adams will be spared the death penalty, stating, “In exchange for the defendant’s plea of no contest, the State of Oklahoma agrees that it will not file a bill of particulars or seek the death penalty in this case.”

The six charges include first-degree murder and desecration of a corpse in the deaths of Veronica and Jilian.

“Jillian was just along for the ride when they were headed to pick up the children for a birthday party,” Thompson said.

The two women were traveling together from Hugoton, Kansas, to pick up Butler’s children when they went missing in Texas County, Oklahoma. They were reported missing on March 30, 2024, and were found buried two weeks later.

“She’s loved, and she will never be forgotten. And that’s exactly what we say. She’s very loved and never forgotten,” Thompson said.

As part of the plea agreement, the state will drop three charges against Tifany Adams — two for child neglect and one for conspiracy.

She could still face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

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Nebraska Republicans launch initiative to switch to ‘winner-take-all’ presidential elections, require vote counting by hand

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Aaron Hegarty

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    LINCOLN, Nebraska (KETV) — In November 2026, Nebraskans could vote on the future of the state’s elections.

Two ballot initiatives were announced Tuesday. One would switch Nebraska to “winner-take-all” presidential elections. Another would end the use of vote counting and voting machines.

Both would amend the state constitution, which requires 10% of all Nebraska registered voters to sign a petition.

A new group formed this summer, Advocates For All Nebraskans, announced the initiatives at a press conference at Lincoln’s Cornhusker Hotel on Tuesday.

The same organization announced ballot initiatives on property taxes in August. It’s now started five ballot initiatives.

Former Nebraska Republican Party Chair Eric Underwood led the news conference. He said Tuesday was chosen to honor Charlie Kirk, who traveled to Nebraska to push for winner-take-all in 2024.

Underwood and other sponsors said the initiatives are bipartisan issues. Underwood said all sponsors are Republicans.

Co-sponsor Danna Seevers said the organization has a “professional statewide effort that is built for success.”

Success in ballot initiatives often relies on funding, and AFAN is seeking the greater number of signatures required for constitutional amendments.

“I feel very confident saying is that the national presence is going to be there to support these movements,” Underwood said.

Underwood and other sponsors argued that switching to winner-take-all would give all Nebraskans a voice. He said candidates campaigning in Nebraska used to travel across the entire state, but now they only visit the Omaha area.

A change to winner-take-all would make it exceptionally difficult for a Democrat to win any votes in Nebraska. While Nebraska is not a swing state, the 2nd District is a swing area, opponents say, and the only reason presidential candidates spend significant resources in Nebraska. The state’s popular vote was last won by a Democrat in 1964, Lyndon Johnson.

Co-sponsor Kirk Penner said the initiative requiring votes to be counted by hand would ensure secure elections. Nebraska would be the only state that would do so. Penner said it would make Nebraska a “trendsetter” on election security.

Civic Nebraska is also opposed to winner-take-all in Nebraska and the vote-counting measure.

“Requiring hand-counting of ballots would dismantle a secure and proven system in favor of one that is slow and prone to error, simply to address conspiracy theories that have been repeatedly debunked. It would waste taxpayer money, invite chaos, corruption, and human error, and undermine trust in the very elections it claims to protect,” Civic Nebraska’s statement read in part.

Nebraska made the switch to give the winner of each congressional district one electoral vote in 1991. Two electoral votes still go on to the overall winner.

It took until Barack Obama in 2008 for a Democrat to win in any single district. Republicans rebounded in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district in 2012 and 2016. The split vote has only ever been a factor in the Omaha metro area’s 2nd District.

Now, however, a Democrat has won in the district in two consecutive presidential elections.

When Kamala Harris won the district by four points last year, it was the first time a Democrat did not also go on to be elected.

Underwood said the initiatives have 45 co-sponsors. A list of the organization’s ballot initiatives and the precise language is here.

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a statement to KETV: “Republicans know they do not have the votes to change our fair electoral vote system, so they are trying anything to rig the outcome from early redistricting and ballot campaigns. Nebraskans made it clear last year they support our fair electoral system. Our elected officials should instead be training other states to follow Nebraska and Maine, the only two states in the nation that give all voters a voice and a fair shot.”

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‘What were they thinking?’ Business owner on graphic haunted house billboard

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Mya Caleb

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    CHELSEA, Alabama (WVTM) — Some residents and business owners are finding a haunted house billboard distasteful in Chelsea.

The billboard can be seen near Snider’s Pharmacy while heading down Highway 280 towards Birmingham. It depicts what appears to be a woman urinating on herself for the Atrox Factory haunted house in Leeds.

Doug Snider, owner of Snider’s Pharmacy, expressed his shock at the imagery, emphasizing that Chelsea is a family-oriented community.

“Honestly, me and my wife rode by probably a week or so ago, and we’re just taken away by it. It was…both of us, it caught our attention right out of the gate, which that’s what a billboard should do. But it was…caught our attention at being disgusting and all that. What were they thinking?” Snider said.

Family members in the area also shared their concern with WVTM 13.

Efforts to reach the haunted house and billboard company for comment were unsuccessful, as both declined to comment.

The City of Chelsea was also contacted but did not respond.

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Parents plead for answers in son’s unsolved murder, claim no response from police

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Michal Higdon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — A mother is begging for a response from the Birmingham Police Department.

Roderick Gray Jr. died three years ago on October 15, 2022. He was shot outside a club in downtown Birmingham and his mom, Myrtis Piggue, says she has heard nothing from police.

He was found in an alleyway outside of Playhouse Gentleman’s Club on 4th Street. While a person of interest was detained that night, no one has been charged.

Roderick Gray Sr. remembers that day like it was yesterday.

“Even to this day we don’t even have the coroner’s report because when we try and get the coroner’s report they were saying, ‘Oh, it’s an active investigation,'” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she hasn’t heard from Birmingham police since last year when she got an email saying security video from three cameras was collected from the area. They say a possible suspect vehicle was seen leaving the area but it was a common make and model and difficult to track. Police say the four shell casings collected from the scene were not found to be connected to any other crime.

Since that email, Piggue says she has called and emailed repeatedly for an update.

“They never responded to us,” Piggue says. ” We never got a call back or anything. Nothing. And then when I continually called back, I found out that a couple of the people that were working on the case are not even there anymore, so I need another person. It’s just been the run around the whole time.”

We’re approaching the anniversary of his death and even just doing this interview is hard because I have to spend most of the year trying to find a way to deal with it,” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she appreciates the new chief’s effort to deter criminal activity but she has a message for him.

“We applaud his effort in regards to crack down on crime because that’s that’s something that Birmingham needs,” Piggue says. But don’t forget the people at the crimes that have already been committed… Don’t forget about the people that are still here trying to get answers.”

Piggue says she just wants to know that someone is at least still working on this case.

Now, three years since their son lost his life they want to keep his memory alive.

“Mystic,” Piggue says. “His father nicknamed him that because he was a mystery. And he truly lived up to his name because he was a real himself type person. And once he got to know you, he was like the life of the party. He was just a real warm, loving person.”

I reached out to the Birmingham Police Department as well to get an update and talk with the detective over the case but have not received a response.

Piggue and Gray Sr. are begging, if you know anything about the case, to please come forward. If you have any information, police ask you to contact the B.P.D. Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.

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Off-duty officer hailed for life-saving measures during crash

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Tim Nazzaro

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    RANDOLPH, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Norwood police are recognizing one of their officers for providing life-saving aid to a person who was hit by a car in Randolph on Tuesday morning.

Officer Rick Bekerian, who was off-duty at the time, happened upon the crash around 6:25 a.m. on Warren Street, according to police.

He immediately checked the injured person’s condition and found that they didn’t have a pulse.

Bekerian then performed CPR on the victim until EMS arrived.

Randolph police say the victim survived the collision.

“We’re proud of Officer Bekerian for his professionalism and dedication — both on and off duty,” Norwood police wrote in a social media post. “His actions are a true reflection of the commitment shown every day by the men and women of the Norwood Police Department.”

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Paul McCartney makes Iowa fan’s birthday unforgettable during Des Moines stop

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Abigail Kurten

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Hours before Paul McCartney’s Des Moines stop in his Get Back Tour, the Beatles legend made one fan’s birthday wish come true.

Doors for the show opened at 6:30 p.m., but fans had already begun lining up outside the loading deck by 3 p.m. They ranged from younger fans to seasoned supporters.

“I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday, traveled all day, and here I am now,” said Megan Gray, who traveled from Utah for the show.

“He’s the top of my Mount Rushmore,” Jeremy Potirala of Beach Park, Illinois, said. “The music means a lot.”

All of the roughly 40 fans gathered with the hope of catching a glimpse of the music legend as he arrived at the venue.

But no one wanted it more than Dan Myers, a lifelong fan from Sioux City who happened to be celebrating his 65th birthday.

“Every song has a personal meaning for me and every song is different,” he said. “I sing along like I did 40 years ago to all these songs.”

Tuesday’s show marks the third time Myers has seen him in Des Moines — and the 19th time total.

He waited almost three hours in the cold and rain for a chance to see McCartney, and by some stroke of luck, he got his birthday wish:

Paul McCartney wished him a happy birthday as he rolled into the venue — and it might have been one of the best birthday gifts he could have asked for.

“It’s just really cool to be that close to a living legend,” Myers said.

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Pennsylvania State Police to look into incident involving insulin, glass contaminating shaved ice at school event

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Caitlyn Scott

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    FAIRCHANCE, Pennsylvania (WTAE) — A Fayette County school provided an update after warning parents shaved ice handed out during a trunk or treat event may have been contaminated with insulin and broken glass.

Albert Gallatin Area School District Superintendent Christopher Pegg said there appears to be no serious injuries or illnesses following Wednesday’s incident.

“We are thankful for our community and staff members who helped spread the word rapidly so parents would be able to have their child/children checked by medical professional if they were experiencing any adverse effects from consuming shaved ice,” Pegg said in the letter.

The school said the incident has been referred to Pennsylvania State Police who will determine whether charges will be filed.

Pegg originally issued a statement Wednesday saying children and parents who attended “Trunk or Treat” at A.L. Wilson Elementary School on Wednesday evening may have been affected.

“If you or your children consumed any shaved ice and are experiencing any adverse effects, please seek immediate medical attention,” Pegg said in the statement.

It is unclear how the shaved ice was contaminated.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 is working to learn more and will provide updates when available.

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Limerick residents preparing to seal time capsule until 2075

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Jamie Azulay

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    LIMERICK, Maine (WMTW) — The town of Limerick is looking ahead to the future with a new time capsule. The town’s historical society opened a time capsule from 1975 this summer as part of Limerick’s 250th birthday celebration. On Saturday, Oct. 18, the town will seal a new time capsule.

Co-chair Ann Marie Carroll was in Tibbetts Memorial Park when the first capsule was buried in August 1975. “Main street was just covered with people,” she said. “This whole hill was just covered, and people couldn’t wait to put their envelopes in.”

Carroll was there again in May 2025 when that time capsule was dug back up. She said, “We were so hoping everything would be in perfect condition and it was.” Carroll’s co-chair Lisa LePage described the capsule’s condition as pristine.

Handwritten letters, coins, neckties, and hats were among the items pulled up from a pipe in the park. They were then put on display at the fire station during Limerick’s semi-quincentennial in August.

Carroll recalled, “You would hear people squeal and laugh and say ‘oh look, look at this picture. Do you remember?’”

80 envelopes have since been given to the families they were addressed to, but there are still more than 10 left to be claimed. LePage has been posting photos of them on social media. As the historical society searches for those families, they’re preparing to fill a new time capsule at 1 p.m. Saturday.

New envelopes can be picked up and turned in at the Limerick fire department or municipal building. Organizers suggest filling the envelopes with new and old photographs, letters to children and grandchildren, newspaper clippings, thumb drives, family history, and important dates.

They say those envelopes will be accepted right up until 1 p.m. Saturday as they seal the capsule shut for another 50 years. The new envelopes will be vacuum sealed and placed in a 5-gallon bucket which will be lowered into the pipe in the hillside.

The Town of Limerick wrote on social media, “Bring your children, who will one day open it in 2075!”

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Man charged with sexual exploitation, accused of placing camera in porta potty

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By KCCI Web Staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A Des Moines man has been arrested on multiple charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and invasion of privacy.

Tyler Pavlick, 32, was booked Wednesday into Polk County Jail.

Des Moines police say they began an investigation shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 when offices were called to the Harvest & Handmade event at Water Works Park. Staff called police to report what appeared to be a recording device that had been placed in a toilet bowl of a portable toilet.

Investigators found that the camera had secretly recorded dozens of people entering and using the portable toilet, including children.

Detectives executed a search warrant this week at an East Village apartment and took Pavlick into custody. He is charged with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of invasion of privacy.

The Des Moines Police Department is asking that anyone who attended the Harvest & Handmade event on Oct. 4 and used one of the portable toilets to reach out to detectives if you believe you may have been recorded. Police say evidence shows the device was in place for about six hours, beginning just before 10 a.m.

You can reach out to detectives via email at FCS@DMGOV.org.

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