Author: CNN Newsource

By WRAL Staff

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    RALEIGH, North Carolina (WRAL) — Grief counselors were on hand Monday at Ravenscroft School to help students and faculty cope with the loss of a teacher.

Ryan Camacho, 36, is charged with Ravenscroft teacher Zoe Welsh’s murder and felony burglary. He appeared in court on Monday, where he was given no bond.

Camacho is due in court again on Jan. 26.

Welsh, a science teacher at the school and former chair of the science department, was killed after police say a man broke into her home on Saturday.

Zoe Welsh was killed after Raleigh police said a man broke into her home on Saturday.

According to the Raleigh Police Department, Welsh called 911 around 6:33 a.m. Saturday from her home on Clay Street to report that a man was inside her home. While Welsh was on the phone, the suspect began assaulting her.

When officers arrived, they found Welsh with life-threatening injuries. Welsh was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

There is no indication Camacho and Welsh knew each other, police said.

According to court documents, Camacho has a lengthy criminal history going back more than a decade in both Wake and Durham counties. Court records show Camacho has been arrested more than 20 times.

In many of those cases, Camacho was either charged with a misdemeanor or the cases were dropped altogether.

However, Camacho was arrested in 2021 after he tried to escape from state prison in Salisbury. Two years earlier, he pleaded guilty to shooting into occupied property in Wake County.

Online court records show Camacho also faced a larceny charge. Recent incidents state he broke into buildings. He is accused of stealing water bottles and two pillows in one incident.

Wake County District Freeman said Camacho was sent to prison for a minimum of two years, followed by five years of probation. According to Freeman, Camacho had his probation revoked when he came out of prison in 2021 and went back to prison.

WRAL News asked Freeman on Monday what goes through her mind knowing Camacho faces charges again.

“We start to look at what are the various points of interaction, and what happened in those cases?” Freeman said. “What were the opportunities to intervene in those situations, and have we handled those cases appropriately?”

Freeman added, “[Camacho] has spent a lot of time bouncing between the prison system and the local jails over the last few years and has really been in custody all but maybe a total of 12 months within the past six years.”

In December, breaking-and-entering charges against Camacho in a separate case were dismissed following a mental competency examination. During the hearing, prosecutors asked to have Camacho involuntarily committed. However, that request was denied by a judge, according to Freeman.

WRAL News asked Judge Louis Meyer on Monday about the decision to deny involuntary commitment, but we did not immediately hear back.

“Someone can be found not capable to proceed and yet determined that they’re not an imminent threat to themselves or others,” Freeman told WRAL News on Monday.

On Monday, WRAL News saw a boarded-up window at the St. Mary’s Square North Apartments right next to Welsh’s home. A resident said Camacho broke the window, a claim WRAL News has asked Raleigh police to verify. The resident said Camacho had been staying in the nearby woods.

Online court records show Camacho had a history of mental health challenges.

Camacho’s mom, Cynthia Camacho, sought and was granted guardianship over him multiple times, citing “incompetency.” WRAL News went to her home on Monday, but she did not want to talk.

In a social media post, Gov. Josh Stein expressed condolences to Welsh’s family.

“Zoe Welsh, by all accounts, was a special teacher and person. My heart goes out to her family and students, who have suffered a traumatic loss from another senseless act of violence. We must invest in our mental and behavioral health system, which my public safety package would address.

“People need to be safe in their homes and their communities. I will work with anyone who is committed to stopping crimes before they happen and holding violent criminals accountable.”

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 Sam Hartle

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — Olathe police have identified two victims who died in a single-vehicle crash Saturday night, Jan. 3.

First responders were notified of the crash by an iPhone crash notification around 10:39 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Northgate Street and East Harold Street.

A witness also reported the crash, telling dispatchers the vehicle, a red Chevrolet Corvette, had crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, and police located two victims deceased inside.

On Monday, the driver was identified as 16-year-old Hayden C. Doherty, of Overland Park, Kansas. The passenger was identified as 17-year-old Addison Askew, of Olathe, Kansas.

Addison attended Olathe North High School. Principal Jason Herman sent a letter Monday to the Olathe North community.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the passing of our fellow Olathe North student, Addison Askew, following a tragic accident,” Herman wrote.

Herman said additional resources would be available at the school on Monday and Tuesday for anyone needing support.

“Take care of one another, and please keep the Askew family in your thoughts during this challenging time,” Herman wrote.

Police said there appeared to be no indications of criminal activity.

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 Caitlin Ashbaugh

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    COWPENS, South Carolina (WYFF) — South Carolinians will start to see new sights on the roads as the state begins issuing a new, specialized license plate.

The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles announced it would be replacing the “While I Breathe, I hope,” blue palmetto logo with a new plate, which pays homage to the state’s pivotal role during the Revolutionary War. The move is just months ahead of the official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The selected slogan will read “Where the Revolutionary War Was Won,” and the plate will be decorated with a soldier holding up the infamous Moultrie flag.

Historians widely attribute the Battle of Cowpens and the Battle of Kings Mountain as a pivotal turning point in the war. South Carolina Historical Society CEO Elizabeth Chew said this is what led to the British surrender in Yorktown.

“The Upcountry was actually a very intense place during the revolution because there were a good number of folks who remained loyal to the British crown. That divided families, it divided siblings or even divided spouses,” Chew said. “There were no British soldiers on the field. It was only Americans who were loyalist and Americans who were patriots.”

Chew said this interpersonal conflict made larger impacts on the turnover and eventual ending of the war.

The wording of the plate is creating an online discourse, with some users being concerned over potential misinterpretation.

WYFF News 4 spoke to visitors at Cowpens Battlefield to see what they thought about the license plate change.

Linda Hager, native to a Northern state but local since the 1980s, believes the sentiment made sense for the state, considering these battles.

“People can have their opinions. They’re entitled to their opinion. This is where the war was won. This is where it ended. I’d put one on my car. Definitely. And if I could get one for my bike. Yes!” Hager said.

There are others who believe the attribution would make more sense for Virginians, as the war technically ended in Yorktown.

Lynn Elliott was visiting Cowpens for the first time as a person with ancestors who were in the battle. Her distant relative, Elizabeth Countryman, previously lived on the property as a farmer.

Elliott loved the idea of the plate, but she did describe the theory as more logistical.

“I love that, this is the first time I’ve seen it. It’s very patriotic. I would get one if I lived here in South Carolina,” Elliott said. “I think it was more of a continuum. I certainly think that the end of it started here. South Carolina played a big part in it.”

Chew said that although people choose to interpret the quote as they will, the heated discussion could open a vital educational door, where she believes South Carolina was overlooked.

“In the 20th century, I think the role of South Carolina in the revolution was kind of diminished. This has gotten so widespread that it’s on the license plates of everyone’s car. Getting history in the people’s minds just in their average everyday activities. That to me is incredibly exciting and important,” Chew said.

Any South Carolina resident who renews their vehicle registration, typically within the 10-year service cycle, will receive the default replacement plate, unless they have selected a different choice. The agency will offer another standard plate option for those who wish to opt out of the new design, which is the emblem reading “In God We Trust.”

Every office location in the state will have these available. Customers can also receive the plates by mail.

The DMV said the new design will help with visual cues for law enforcement and fellow motorists on the roads.

When asked about the discourse over the writing, the DMV responded:

“The SC250 Commission designed the plate at the direction of the SC General Assembly, who authorized the plate in law. As a state agency, the SCDMV will leave such debates to others.”

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 Bethany Cates

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    WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (WXII) — From praises to prayers is how people in the congregation at Mount Sinai Full Gospel Deliverance Center in Winston-Salem started their 2026.

“As we were closing to get ready to go to the photo booth, a bullet came through the vestibule door into the sanctuary door,” said Senior Pastor Yvonne Hines.

Hines said she has never experienced something so unsettling in her 30 years of ministry.

She said as soon as they heard the shots, everyone immediately hit the floor.

“We did everything that we were supposed to do, we had security on the grounds, we had a pipeline to the police department, we had people in-house who were prepared,” Hines said.

Hines said her message during her first Sunday service of the new year was a message of encouragement.

“We will proceed with probably a more cautionary perspective, but we will proceed with our service agenda,” Hines said.

She also added that there was a distinct takeaway that came from all of this.

“The world that I grew up in has changed considerably,” Hines said.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough also posted a response to the incident on Facebook. One of his deputies was grazed on the hand by the bullet.

“I just want to know where did we lose the respect for the church, where did we lose the respect for one another,” Kimbrough said.

And while this wasn’t the outcome Hines expected walking into the New Year, the situation has given her a renewed sense of purpose as she continues to minister to the community.

‘When something of this magnitude happens, when you’ve got grit and guts, it kind of steers you, adversity gives you a recharge or a reset,” Hines said.

Hines said the church is offering a $5,000 reward if anyone can provide any information on who fired the shots.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office also asks that if anyone has any information, please come forward.

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 Caitlyn Scott, Mike Clark

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — The play that helped send the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs also gave a local teacher the gift of a lifetime Sunday night.

North Allegheny High School tech-ed teacher Justin Karolski was the lucky fan who caught the final missed field goal by Ravens kicker Tyler Loop.

Karolski brought the ball to school when classes resumed after winter break, sharing the excitement with his students.

He spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday, describing the moment as one of the biggest in Pittsburgh sports history, noting that many students commented on the significance of the event.

“A bunch of people in the section I knew were all taking pictures with it and having a good time,” Karolski said. “Then more people started to come down, and I wanted to be able to make it to work on time in the morning. So I hid it underneath my jersey as I walked out to make sure that I wasn’t being mobbed.”

He continued, saying, “This is one of the biggest moments in Pittsburgh sports history that they’ve seen. And many of them were commenting that when they saw this.”

Karolski, a regular attendee at Steelers games, said he had never before had the chance to catch a ball like this, until Sunday night.

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 Rachael Perry

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    LANTANA, Florida (WPBF) — A short note with an urgent message led police to the home of an 81-year-old man, who they say was battered by his caretaker.

According to the police report, officers with the Lantana Police Department were called to a home on Dec. 29, 2025, by a mail carrier after finding a note in the elderly man’s mailbox that read “call the police.”

WPBF 25 News Reporter Rachael Perry sat down with the victim, who asked to remain anonymous.

The 81-year-old said his now former caretaker, Denise Williams, had gotten upset with him the day before police arrived over his bathroom being messy. He said she began screaming at him, so he reached for his phone to call for help.

“She jumped on my chest as I was lying down, trying to get my phone, and she jumped on my chest and started grabbing it. She finally got it, scratched me, as you saw, and then she grabbed my phone, and the two house phones, the landline phones, and my car keys. She dumped them in her room and locked the door,” he said.

He said he tried defending himself but eventually gave up.

“She almost violently grabbed my full hand, and finally I couldn’t stand the pain, because she was really squeezing it hard, so I let go of it, and then I started to call on the house phone, and she grabbed those and took them away,” he said.

The man said he had no other way of calling for help, but he found a piece of paper and quickly got an idea.

“So I wrote the little note, put it in the mailbox,” he said.

The note read “Call the police” and was discovered the next day by his mailman, who did just that.

The victim said police arrived and interviewed him, where he gave them the make and model of Williams’ car. She was found a short time later at a nearby gas station. The police report shows Williams had the victim’s debit card and checkbook.

According to police, Williams admitted to taking the victim’s cellphone and causing the injury to his hand. Detectives note Williams also admitted to disconnecting both landline telephones and hiding all three phones in her bedroom.

Officers searched the locked bedroom where they say they found the two landline phones with the modems attached, along with a cellphone.

Williams was arrested on several charges, including battery on a person 65 years of age or older, along with robbery. She’s being held in the Palm Beach County Jail.

The victim said he acknowledges all the good she’s done for him in the past, noting that Williams has saved his life four times. However, he said her behavior has shifted over the last few months.

“Every month, every day, she got a little bit worse,” he said.

The 81-year-old said he’s now on his own as he searches for a new caregiver.

“I got a hold of a VA, and I may get a hold of somebody else because I really need a live-in. I’ve been getting worse and worse and worse off and worse off,” he said.

In the meantime, he’s thankful his hand has started to heal.

WPBF 25 News reached out to both the United States Postal Service and the Lantana Police Department for an interview, but did not hear back.

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.