Author: CNN

WBBM

By CBS Chicago Team, Jermont Terry, Jeramie Bizzle

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    CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — A scary situation for a CBS News Chicago reporter and photographer who were attacked near the Adler Planetarium during a shoot on Monday afternoon.

The incident happened just before 4:30 p.m. on the 900 block of East Solidarity Drive.

As our reporter and photographer were preparing to go on the air during the 4 p.m. newscast, three men in a white tow truck approached.

Two witnesses visiting Chicago said they watched as the tow truck parked directly in front of the news van.

“They just were trying to do anything they could to scare them unnecessarily. It came out of nowhere,” one witness said.

The crew and the two witnesses say a white or Hispanic man with a dog got out first and then moved aggressively towards the crew while shouting racial slurs targeted at one of our journalists.

“It started racial with the cameraman because he’s an African American male,” the witness said.

The man ordered the dog to attack, but it did not, Chicago police said.

“I think he was trying to, again, intimidate him, make him scared by having the dog approach first,” the second witness said.

When one of the crew members defended himself from the dog, witnesses say that’s when the other two men in the tow truck jumped out.

“They were saying, ‘Leave the dog alone,’ and I just feel like maybe the scene got more chaotic than they were expecting, and I feel like the only thing they thought to do was to just cause as much damage as they could and leave,” the witness said.

One of the men then smashed our photographer’s camera while the other smashed the windshield of our news truck with a traffic cone before taking off.

Fortunately, the reporter and photographer got away unharmed. Three people were arrested about 20 minutes after the incident, following another attack, police said. CPD received reports about the same tow truck—this time because the occupants were pointing a gun at people on the sidewalk near 42nd and Western in Brighton Park. By the time officers caught up to the truck, the driver sped off.

Eventually, all three occupants from the tow truck jumped out after crashing into a squad car. A gun was also recovered from the tow truck, police said. The gun was not pointed at the CBS crew.

“We didn’t see any guns in that moment, but to know that it escalated to that or could of been that is just terrifying,” the witness said.

A CBS spokesperson said in a statement, “We are shocked and horrified by this crime and we are grateful that our journalists are safe.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Charges are pending.

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.

WFOR

By S.E. Jenkins, Morgan Rynor, Abby Dodge

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    BROWARD COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting involving its deputies that left an armed suspect dead Monday night after authorities say he fled from deputies, refused repeated commands to drop his weapon and attempted to point a gun at law enforcement in Davie.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m. near the 6300 block of Stirling Road. The investigation stretched across multiple blocks, from a Wawa gas station to a nearby McDonald’s, where the confrontation ended.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, members of its fugitive and gang unit approached the suspect while he was pumping gas at the Wawa on Stirling Road.

Sheriff Gregory Tony said deputies were attempting to arrest the man on an outstanding warrant. Investigators said the suspect had previously fled from police and was linked to other crimes through DNA evidence.

Authorities said the suspect ran from deputies while carrying a firearm. Deputies caught up to him and tackled him in the McDonald’s parking lot, but investigators said he resisted arrest and officers were unable to take the gun from him.

Sheriff Tony said deputies then conducted a tactical retreat while repeatedly ordering the suspect to drop the weapon.

“Given a multitude of commands to let go of the firearm, the officers probably spent over a minute and 15 seconds, from my account of looking at the BWC, just trying to get the individual to let the firearm go,” Tony said.

According to investigators, the suspect then attempted to point the firearm at deputies, prompting officers to open fire.

“At that point in time, he looked and attempted to point the firearm at them, and they engaged him,” Tony said.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released his identity.

Officials said six BSO deputies and one Plantation police officer fired their weapons during the shooting. Tony said no bystanders were injured and the deputies involved suffered only minor cuts and scrapes.

One witness who asked not to be identified said she heard about 20 gunshots before seeing a large police response.

“I started seeing cops come,” she said. “There were undercovers, cops, helicopters.”

Investigators are still working to determine whether the suspect fired any shots at deputies.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting involving BSO deputies, which is standard procedure whenever law enforcement officers use deadly force in Florida.

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.

KCNC

By Christa Swanson

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — Teams of military members, Colorado first responders, and family members who have lost loved ones due to impaired driving faced off on Sunday in the annual Kart Racing for Heroes event.

Kart Racing for Heroes is a Colorado-based nonprofit that helps raise awareness and highlights the prevention of impaired driving. It also thankd the military, police, firefighters, and first responders who serve our communities. The event introduces go-kart racing as a way to reduce stress without the use of alcohol or drugs.

It was organized by Craig Mansfield, whose 23-year-old son, Senior Airman Kristopher Mansfield, was killed in a crash involving a drunk driver in 2004.

“My son was killed by an impaired driver 21 years ago. He was stationed at Buckley. Because of that, I got a lot more help than most people get during the time of an impaired crash. So I wanted to do [something for] the Air Force. My son and I had raced karts together,” Mansfield shared. “Then, through MADD, I went out and did checkpoints and saw the stress of the police officers, the firemen, the EPS, even tow truck drivers having to pick up body parts because of stupidity and carnage in impaired driving. So we came up with the Kart Racing for Heroes events to say ‘Thank you’ to these men and women who have these jobs and do them so well. To be able to say thank you.”

During the event, teams of five men and five women each compete in a relay race with driver changes, aiming to complete the most laps in one hour. This year included teams from the military, the Denver, Lakewood and Northglenn Police Departments, Colorado State Patrol, South Metro and Summit County Fire and EMS, and family teams who have lost loved ones to impaired driving. Drivers also competed against a team operating a hand-controlled kart.

This year’s event was dedicated to the family of Magnus White, one of the nation’s top junior cyclists, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver near his Boulder home in 2023.

“Each year, we dedicate it to a family who has lost a loved one to say, ‘Hey, we’re still here for you.’ So, we’ve dedicated it to 20 different families over the years, and the one thing I hear back from them, ‘This is a lot of fun, and thank you,'” said Mansfield.

Mansfield says that kind of support and community is important to the families as they navigate their loss.

“It’s huge,” he said. “You know, after I joined MADD, that they have a victim assistance officer. They go to court with you just to explain that process, which is not on TV. There’s hundreds of cases there, and you have somebody right by your side explaining everything that gonna go on.”

Mansfield also had a message for those who are thinking about getting behind the wheel while impaired”

“I did victim impact panels for 20 years also, and I’ve heard every story about why they thought they were okay to drive when they aren’t. You’ve got Lyft, Uber, taxis, friends. Heck, my number’s all over the place! Call me, I’ll come and get you, you know? We’ll spend the night, I’ll make breakfast in the morning for you, and get you back to your car. Don’t, DON’T drink and drive.”

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.

KCNC

By Spencer Wilson

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    EVERGREEN, Colorado (KCNC) — A Colorado nonprofit is working to help landowners fight back against growing infestations of mountain pine beetles and protect their properties from wildfires.

What started as a handful of infested trees in Evergreen, Colorado, has turned into hundreds for landowner Jon Hager.

“It was a very small infestation, maybe four or five trees,” Hager said. “This year, we had to be very proactive on it.”

Now, crews are cutting down and chipping dozens of beetle-killed and infested trees on his property as part of an effort to slow the spread of mountain pine beetles, which experts warn could become a bigger problem during Colorado’s dry summer conditions.

“It’s our responsibility as landowners,” Hager said. “I think it’s also a responsibility for my neighbors that we take care of the beetle problem so it doesn’t spread to their land as well.”

The work is being organized by the Mountain Pine Beetle Foundation, a Colorado nonprofit focused on removing infested trees from private property. Founder Wesley Manney said the organization’s goal is simple: stop beetle infestations before they grow and reduce wildfire risk at the same time.

“Dead pine trees are like standing matches,” Manney said. “It takes one spark, and then you have a whole forest go up.”

After trees are cut down, crews run much of the material through industrial chippers. Manney said the process helps eliminate habitats where beetles can continue to spread.

The effort comes as Colorado officials have renewed concerns about mountain pine beetles. State leaders recently created a task force to examine the growing threat, particularly after a winter with low snowfall and continuing drought conditions in many mountain communities.

For Hager, it’s about personal responsibility to our communities and the state we all love.

“It is a community problem,” he said. “It’s easy to look at your own land and say, ‘I don’t have many beetles.’ But if you don’t proactively address it, it can take out a whole hillside.”

Manney said funding remains one of the biggest challenges. Tree removal is expensive, and many property owners cannot afford large-scale mitigation projects on their own (although they regularly volunteer hours either identifying infested trees or logging).

“If we can crowdfund and raise money, then we can put that money directly into the forest,” Manney said. “Boots on the ground, chainsaws in the woods.”

The nonprofit is encouraging homeowners to request property evaluations and is also seeking volunteers to help hike through forests to identify infested trees, as well as donations to help expand its work across Colorado’s mountain communities.

With beetle activity increasing and wildfire concerns already high this summer, both Hager and Manney said waiting is not an option.

“It’s a huge task to undertake,” Manney said. “But we have the right people, the right personnel and the right service providers here locally, and we can do 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.

WBBM

By Shardaa Gray

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    CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — The bulk of Chicago’s Ford City Mall will be permanently shut down by a court order at noon on Monday.

The main building of a once mid-century Chicago retail icon will close on Monday—something shoppers say they are not looking forward to.

“It’s just like an era that’s going away,” said Pam Jefferson-Waits.

An era that will be gone soon for Jefferson-Waits. She came to look for a pair of jeans, but was mainly hoping to take a trip down memory lane.

“It’s just part of growing up and coming here, you know, as a teenager. Even when we grew up, you know, come in the mall and we used to like to go in the tunnel. I always thought that was cool. You can go on this side and go in the tunnel and go on the other side. So it’s a lot of memories,” she said.

JCPenney is the only store that’s still open, but with barely anything inside, just a few clothes on racks. It will also be closing at the location on Monday.

“It is sad. Even though I didn’t find the jeans that I was looking for, I was just hoping I could just take a walk down the hall just for good old time’s sake, ya know?” Jefferson-Waits said.

The city maintains the aging building.

Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) says the New York-based company called Namdar Realty Group bought it in 2019.

Court records show the realty group must maintain the fire suppression system for the entire mall complex until further order of the court.

“Namdar is not going to fix the things that needs to be fixed, like fire suppression. It’s a safety hazard,” Curtis said.

The alderman says there are millions of gallons of water per day that run underneath the mall between Cicero and Kostner to other businesses, as well as the Ford City Condos, but says it connects to other places that he doesn’t know where it’s going to.

“It’s frightening because gallons of water per day is gushing out of the basement underground somewhere,” he said.

Curtis pushed to have the mall closed down and is hoping to redevelop it, which would be a more than $200 million project.

“It’s going to bring a lot of jobs. We had a community meeting. We talked about giving green space and things like that. So I’m excited to see what it will become,” he said.

The alderman says he’s meeting with the city and the new buyers on Monday. He’s hoping to find out when the purchase will go through.

CBS News Chicago has reached out to Namdar Realty Group for comment but has not heard 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.

WCCO

By Ray Campos

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    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (WCCO) — A miniature vending machine inside a Minneapolis bookstore is giving local artists a low-cost way to get their work in front of the public — one dollar at a time.

The $1 Mini Art Vending Machine, located inside Inkwell Booksellers at 426 E. Hennepin in Minneapolis, was created by local artist Lilyan Lauzon, who goes by OneTiredArtist online. Lauzon also serves as a community engagement manager and designed the project to give emerging and underrepresented artists a place to sell their work without financial barriers.

“For new and emerging artists ,it’s really hard to find spaces to sell your artwork, and I wanted to make a project that was fun and collaborative for local artists,” said Lauzon.

Artists pay no fee to participate, and the full dollar from each sale goes directly to them. Buyers get an original piece of art for four quarters.

Since launching in October, the machine has featured more than 80 artists and nearly 3,000 pieces of artwork. Each month, Lauzon restocks the machine with new work. Artists interested in participating can submit an application through an interest form linked on her social media.

The project has had a measurable impact beyond the vending machine itself. Lauzon said artists have reported new customers showing up to their art fairs after discovering their work through the machine, and some have landed larger commissions as a result.

“Artists have told me that people have come to their art fairs to buy more of their artwork because of what they got in this snapshot of their portfolio,” said Lauzon. “There’s also been a few people who have had larger commissions come out from the mini art vending machine.”

Following the project’s success, Lauzon said she hopes to find a second vending machine and expand to a different location.

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.

KOVR

By Brandon Downs

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    STOCKTON, California (KOVR) — The Stockton Police Department released video Thursday of an officer shooting a man wielding an ax in early May.

The shooting happened along Deep Cliff Way, off Houston Avenue, on May 4, around 7 a.m. Police said they responded to reports that a suspicious man was armed with an ax on Nevada Street, about a mile from where the shooting happened.

Police said the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Moises Andrade, was trying to break down the door of a home but left the area.

Officers later contacted Andrade inside a garage along Deep Cliff Way. The video shows Andrade in the garage, unarmed, but he soon picked up an ax and closed the garage door.

He opened the garage door again and officers gave repeated commands to drop the ax, the video showed. Police said one officer grabbed his gun and another grabbed his taser.

This is when police said Andrade took a “pre-assaultive stance” and raised the ax. This is when an officer shot Andrade, who was later taken to a hospital where he died, police said.

The police department identified the officer involved as Gabriel Sixtos, who was hired in 2017 and assigned to the field operations division.

The department released the video on Facebook. Viewer discretion is advised.

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.

KOVR

By Ashley Williams

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — A Sacramento museum dedicated to Black history is at risk of closing because of a lack of funding.

The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum on Florin Road was opened 30 years ago by local activist Shonna McDaniels. Volunteers say it is the only museum in the Sacramento region focused on Black history.

Now, volunteers say funding is down. The museum continues to apply for grants, but those applications have been denied.

Supporters say similar funding challenges are affecting museums across the country. But they also say the Sojourner Truth Museum needs more visitors and community awareness to survive.

“A lot of people that live down the block are not aware that the museum is here – and I must admit, when I started working here, people asked where it is. They thought the murals on the wall was the museum,” volunteer Constance Arnick said.

The museum started in a space of about 800 square feet in 1996 and has since grown to more than 4,000 square feet. It is currently in a shared building, but volunteers hope it can eventually move into its own space and continue expanding.

Volunteers say people can support the museum by visiting or donating.

The Sojourner Truth Museum is also a sponsor of the upcoming Banana Festival, where it will have a booth for people who want to learn more or offer support.

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.

WBZ

By Neal Riley

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    PROVINCETOWN, Massachusetts (WBZ) — There’s a smelly situation on the beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts after thousands of squid washed up on shore.

Social media video and photos from this weekend show the pink sea creatures stacked up in the sand. The Provincetown Harbormaster’s Office said they are Atlantic longfin inshore squid that are at the end of their life cycle.

“The squid are NOT dying from a toxic event, red tide, or pollution,” the harbormaster said. “This is a completely natural process!”

The squid have a lifespan of less than a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries division. The harbormaster said they migrate near the beach to spawn, and die shortly after. The Provincetown-based Center for Coastal Studies had posted a video of squid swimming in the water close to shore Thursday.

“It’s a mass spawning die-off,” the harbormaster said. “Add in the right combination of wind and tide, and the dying animals get pushed up onto the beach instead of staying out in the water.”

The harbormaster said “this happens all the time,” but they usually die underwater and are quickly eaten by fish and other predators in the ocean.

To deal with the smell, the harbormaster says residents can scoop the squid up with a shovel and throw them back, “and the tide and critters will handle the rest.”

“So no need to worry,” the harbormaster said. “Mother Nature is just doing her thing.”

Provincetown is located at the end of Cape Cod, a 115-mile drive from Boston.

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.

KOVR

By Nina Burns

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    CERES, California (KOVR) — The mayor of Ceres is facing backlash after a social media post showing a before-and-after cleanup at a trash-filled site sparked questions about transparency and the use of artificial intelligence.

Mayor Javier Lopez posted images of a dumpster area behind a vacant Rite Aid, appearing to show the site cleaned up. But when residents and city leaders visited the location, they found trash and debris still present.

Lopez said code enforcement did respond to the site and removed large items, including debris surrounding the enclosure. However, he acknowledged using software with artificial intelligence features to edit the image.

“I lightened up the picture. It looks like I came over here and I power-washed the concrete,” Lopez said, adding that the intent was to highlight progress, not mislead the public.

The post drew criticism online, with some residents questioning whether the image accurately reflected conditions at the site.

Ceres City Councilmember Cerina Otero, who represents the district, said she visited the location after seeing the post and was surprised by what she found.

“I was really excited. I thought code enforcement came out to assist us,” Otero said. “But I was shocked to see the mess here still.”

Otero said code enforcement did remove some large items, but noted the area was far from fully cleaned. She also pointed to inconsistencies between the image and reality.

“I did notice that notice there on that wall was not in the photo,” she said. “This isn’t exactly cleaned up like we thought it was. And for me, transparency is key.”

Lopez said he left an AI label on the post and maintains he was upfront about how the image was created.

“I’m being very consistent and straightforward about anything that I’m using to compose any post,” he said.

Both Lopez and Otero said ongoing issues at the site are partly tied to homelessness and a lack of maintenance by the private property owner. Otero said while the city has been in contact with the owner, more consistent upkeep is needed.

“It’s expected that you help the city to maintain your property,” she said.

Lopez said moving forward, he plans to handle posts differently.

“We have to take accountability next time,” he said. “I’ll make sure that I come down here with the power washer to clean the concrete.”

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.