Author: CNN

KCNC

By Christa Swanson

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — After almost 10 years, a Wisconsin man who killed his wife on an Amtrak train to Denver back in 2016 has been convicted of her murder.

Investigators ultimately determine Angelo Mantych suffocated his wife, 28-year-old Marina Placensia, to death, and he was found guilty by a jury in court on Friday.

On August 30, 2016, Placensia and Mantych, who is now 45, and Placensia’s four children — three of whom are also Mantych’s — boarded a train heading from their home in Wisconsin to Denver. The Denver District Attorney’s Office said that, by the time the train reached Union Station on Sept. 1, Placensia was dead.

According to court documents, Mantych told police that his wife was sleeping, and he tried to wake her before the train arrived. Mantych claimed that when Placensia didn’t respond, he asked for help.

The investigator who responded to the call said he noticed “numerous bruises on the body that appeared consistent with an assault or struggle,” but that none would be an obvious cause of death. Mantych told the investigator that she was “banged up from moving” and that a screen door had hit Placensia, and the other bruises were from moving heavy furniture down the stairs.

However, Placensia’s brother warned authorities that Mantych was abusive. Police in Racine, Wis., confirmed Mantych had previously been arrested and charged with physical abuse against her.

A former neighbor also told family members that Mantych physically abused Placensia the day before the couple left, and that he had done so multiple times in the past. One of her friends told investigators that she was speaking with family members about moving back to Colorado to get her away from Mantych, and that he had threatened to kill her and her children if she left him.

Reports said that, although she had 35 internal and external injuries, none of them were severe enough to explain her death. Officials also ruled out Placensia’s liver disease as a potential cause, which was revealed in her autopsy.

It wasn’t until 2022 that an expert on strangulation and suffocation was brought in to review the case. In 2023, the expert assigned told District Attorney Maggie Conboy that he determined Placensia’s cause of death to be “suffocation and the manner as homicide.”

Based on the findings and conclusion, an arrest warrant was made for Mantych. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder for Placensia’s death.

Mantych was convicted Friday afternoon, and he now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His sentencing will be held on Jan. 9, 2026.

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KTVT

By Giles Hudson

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — Siblings were killed after a fire swept through an apartment in Far North Dallas early Saturday, officials said.

Dallas-Fire Rescue said at around 3:20 a.m., crews were called to the fire in the 4000 block of Frankford Road near Midway Road.

“When companies arrived on scene, they observed heavy fire coming from an apartment on the first floor of a two-story apartment building; and with reports of multiple residents potentially being trapped inside, a second alarm response was requested,” said DFR spokesman Jason Evans.

Two people were inside the apartment, Evans said. One was able to get out but was taken to the hospital and later died.

A second person was found inside the apartment and was pronounced dead on the scene, Evans said.

The names of the victims have not been released, but Evans confirmed the two were brother and sister.

The cause of the fire isn’t known, Evans said.

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KYW

By Joe Brandt, Wakisha Bailey

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    Philadelphia (KYW) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for a propane shortage starting Friday morning, weeks after a service disruption at a major propane plant threatened the supply in the Garden State. It’s a move that the governor says will help keep the fuel heating thousands of residents’ homes amid a long stretch of cold weather.

The state of emergency will allow New Jersey to obtain federal permission to loosen restrictions on the schedules and hours of delivery drivers transporting propane gas into the state, Murphy’s office said in a news release. The state of emergency will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.

Murphy’s order did not specify which plant was experiencing service issues, but said it was in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. The issue began on Nov. 21, 2025, he said.

In the governor’s five-page executive order signed Thursday, it’s noted that the disruption will cause longer wait times for propane trucks, and limits on drivers’ schedules could further exacerbate the problem.

Without an emergency order in place, propane truck drivers are limited to 11 hours of driving time. But under a state of emergency, drivers’ maximum drive time can be extended to 14 hours, with a mandated 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time in between shifts on the road.

Murphy said in a news release that the emergency was needed “to ensure that the approximately 186,000 New Jerseyans who rely on propane for home heating purposes can receive it without interruption. This Executive Order expands delivery capabilities to keep homes heated and families secure.”

The governor said New Jerseyans who may be impacted can visit ready.nj.gov for updates and safety information and NJ211 for information on resources and warming centers.

If you need to use a generator to warm your home, here are some generator safety tips.

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KDKA

By Mamie Bah

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    Pittsburgh (KDKA) — A mother and her boyfriend are facing charges after they were accused of leaving four children in unlivable circumstances in a home on Charles Street in Knoxville.

“Their parents need to go to jail,” said Robert Pittman.

Investigators say their mother, India McKnight, and her boyfriend Earl Kennedy are responsible.

The couple reportedly stayed in a house, one home over.

Pittman lives a street over and has children of his own.

“You’re supposed to make sure those children are alright, make sure they eat every day,” he continued, ” I don’t think you deserve to have your kids.”

According to the criminal complaints, it started with a sexual abuse investigation in August involving the boyfriend.

The responding officers noted that the four children lived in the home, and conditions were deplorable. There was allegedly no bed or even a mattress for them to sleep on; 20 cats, their feces and urine everywhere; No food, just one box of macaroni and cheese in a kitchen cabinet; and no heat or hot water since April

A neighbor agreed to speak with us, but under the condition that we keep his identity secret.

“It’s kind of hard to put in words,” he said.

He knew McKnight and Kennedy.

“They were okay, just normal kids, went to school,” he said after being asked if the children looked to have any appearances of anything being wrong.

The couple is facing multiple charges, including endangering the welfare of children.

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KPIX

By Carlos E. Castañeda, Kelsi Thorud

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A gas explosion and fire near Hayward and Interstate Highway 238 Thursday morning injured multiple people and destroyed or damaged at least three structures, authorities said.

The incident happened on East Lewelling Boulevard just west of Mission Boulevard and south of Highway 238 in the unincorporated community of Ashland. The area has a mix of commercial and residential structures, including single-family homes.

The explosion scattered debris across a wide area, landing on adjacent rooftops. At least two of the structures destroyed appeared to be contained on the same lot of 867 E. Lewelling Boulevard, which was listed on Redfin as a four-bedroom, 3,957 square-foot home.

Pacific Gas and Electric said at 7:35 a.m., it was notified that a third-party construction crew had damaged an underground gas line while digging on Lewelling Boulevard, and it dispatched crews to the scene. According to PG&E, its workers isolated the damaged line and stopped the flow of gas by 9:25 a.m., but gas had been released at multiple locations, and at 9:35 a.m., the explosion happened.

Security camera video from a neighbor across the street showed construction vehicles in front of the address as a large explosion destroyed much of the main structure. The neighbor told CBS News Bay Area her entire house shook in the blast.

“It looked like a bomb dropped. It just went,” said Brittany Maldonado. “We thought a truck hit the house or something, but no, the neighbor’s house exploded.”

A spokesperson for Alameda County said Redgwick Construction of Oakland is currently working on a project to improve E. Lewelling Boulevard in the area, and the firm lists the project on its website. Documents from the county indicate the work involves new sidewalks, bikeways, and pavement improvements.

CBS News Bay Area has reached out to Redgwick Construction for comment.

Alameda County Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Nishimoto said at least three buildings on two properties were “significantly damaged,” and a third property adjacent to the other properties had minor to major damage on the side where the explosion occurred.

“Two of the three buildings look like residential structures, the one in the back of one of the properties looks like a workshop with maybe a living quarters on top,” Nishimoto said.

Six patients were taken to nearby hospitals, Nishimoto said. CBS News Bay Area has learned that at least three patients were being treated at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley with injuries described as serious.

Eight engines and two ladder trucks responded to the three-alarm fire, said Fire Department spokesperson Cheryl Hurd.

Alameda County Sheriff’s Sgt. Roberto Morales said deputies were dispatched to evacuate other residents in the area. It was unclear how many residents were evacuated.

The California Highway Patrol said southbound Highway 238 to East 14th Street and Lewelling Boulevard from Mission to Paradise boulevards were shut down during the firefight and investigation.

Many neighbors in the area questioned why there wasn’t an evacuation in the two hours before the explosion when PG&E knew gas was leaking.

Maldonado said she was never notified of a gas leak, and the only reason she knew anything was going on was because she saw a PG&E crew member checking her gas meter at around 8:30 in the morning.

“And he said that they were turning off the gas because of something with the road crew,” said Maldonado. “So we were, like, okay. So we were even more confused because we were, like, ‘But the gas was off, how did the explosion happen?'”

PG&E said it does not execute evacuations and leaves that process up to first responders.

The Alameda County Fire Department said it did not evacuate the neighborhood because when crews came on the scene, PG&E told them they did not need the department’s assistance.

“PG&E will be conducting an extensive investigation around a potential cause and will support other investigations that may take place,” said spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian.

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KTVT

By Erin Jones

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — A Dallas woman who beat a rare and aggressive cancer is being celebrated in a special way. The Dallas Stars Foundation recently honored her at a home game not just for her strength, but for the artwork that helped her heal.

For Dallas attorney Gracen Moreno, last Friday’s Stars game was about more than hockey.

“The entire arena… it seemed like everyone was either holding a shirt or talking about the shirt,” she said.

A shirt she designed carries a powerful message, “Finish the Fight.”

Last year, at just 29-years-old, Gracen was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. At the time, she was preparing for a jury trial and planning a wedding two months away. The plans were suddenly moved up to just one week after her diagnosis.

“You kind of have your whole life ahead of you and then it turns out upside down,” she said.

Her first symptom was a lingering cough. Then an X-ray revealed a nine-centimeter mass in her chest and a CT scan followed.

“My doctor called me and said don’t panic but I need you to go to the emergency room to start getting the process in place to get out whatever is in your chest biopsied,” she said.

Soon after came the news she feared most.

“When I heard or I found out that I had cancer, it’s like your worst nightmare ever coming true,” she said.

“Alk-Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma is one of the rarest types of what we call non-Hodgkins lymphoma and it’s particularly aggressive unless treated appropriately,” Jana Reynolds, MD, a Texas Oncology physician on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center said.

Doctors told Gracen the prognosis wasn’t good, only about a 30% chance of surviving five years.

“What happens when the worst possible thing that you think at the time is the worst possible thing happens to you?” she said. “Well, you can either give up, which is not an option, or you can decide to fight.”

Fight she did. Through several rounds of grueling chemotherapy and, ultimately, a bone marrow transplant at Baylor Scott & White’s Sammons Cancer Center.

“On one of my lowest days of hospitalization my husband looked at me and said do you want to go paint something?” she said. “How do we make this better? I couldn’t see friends or family.”

Inside the hospital’s Arts in Medicine studio, Gracen began painting, using creativity to cope with the long days of treatment.

While there, her art therapist learned she was a Dallas Stars season ticket holder and when an opportunity came up, she knew exactly who to recommend.

“She came later to my hospital room and said you’ll never believe this, but I got an email from the Stars earlier today asking if I knew any cancer patients that also participated in the art program and I think you would be perfect for it,” she said.

At last Friday’s home game, the Dallas Stars Foundation honored Gracen, celebrating her remission and her resilience.

The team asked her to design custom artwork for a special T-shirt given to the first 500 fans and even players.

“Everyone was really invested in the mission,” Gracen said. “It was really cool to see fans, players, coaches, all either wearing the shirt or just celebrating the fight against cancer itself.”

Her team of doctors say the recognition was well deserved.

“I’m so proud of her for accepting the challenge and honestly bringing more attention to the serious things that we face,” Dr. Reynolds said.

“It was a really special night,” Gracen said.

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WBBM

By Victor Jacobo, Asal Rezaei

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Cold temperatures and concerns about the ongoing federal immigration crackdown in the Chicago area did not stop thousands of Catholics, mostly Latinos, from making the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday in Des Plaines.

Thursday was the start of the two-day celebration of the Virgin Mary, and the pilgrimage to Des Plaines is the largest celebration to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States.

Thousands of believers braved the cold to leave flowers, light candles, pray, and sing at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

This year’s pilgrimage was a first for Carol Lopez and her daughter, Marina.

“I love her, I love the Virgen de Guadalupe,” Lopez said. “We’re really believers, because my grandma and grandpa used to teach us how to pray, and I just love her.”

Lopez said being at the shrine brings back a lot of those childhood memories.

“They had a big statue of her in their bedroom. He had, like, a shrine of her, and I just love her,” she said.

The pilgrimage has been a tradition in Des Plaines since 2014, but the history of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe dates back to 1531, when Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared before Saint Juan Diego in Mexico, leaving an image of herself on his cloak.

Lopez’s daughter, Marina, said everyone coming to the shrine deserves to feel safe.

“We were afraid that ICE was going to be here, actually. So that’s kind of scary to know that all these people are risking themselves right now to come visit her,” Marina said.

Arcelia Maya and Noelia Vargas have made the pilgrimage to Des Plaines for several years. They said the event, which is normally packed, felt less so this year.

Vargas said some who normally make the trip have said they’re staying home this year, that they’re scared about the federal immigration crackdown.

Many visitors said there’s been a growing fear that federal agents could show up in Des Plaines.

“It’s very sad, but I think that also affected a lot of people coming, and that’s why they’re mostly watching it through the TV and just celebrating at home in the way they can,” said Ashley Ramirez, of Chicago.

Despite challenges and hardships both personally and in her community, Ramirez said she came out to express gratitude.

“I’m just very thankful for the blessings that we’ve had over the year,” she said.

But after months of heavy immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, her thoughts and prayers also ask for change.

“With everything going on with ICE, I think I’m very thankful that my mom is still with me. But at the same time, I’m hoping for things to get better, and praying that things with ICE and everything calm down so we can live again like we once did, and we don’t have to live in fear,” she said.

The Department of Homeland Security said ICE does not target churches or places of worship.

Meantime, the two-day celebration continues on Friday for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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KCBS

By Chelsea Hylton

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Police are looking into how a man ended up inside the trunk of a driverless Waymo in the Westlake District, surprising a mom and daughter.

The incident was captured in a TikTok video and shows the driverless Waymo pull up to the curb when the door opens and a man is already inside, tucked behind the back seat in the trunk area. The woman quickly pulls her daughter away, keeps recording and later says she canceled the ride and called 911.

Los Angeles Police Department officers are then seen detaining the man on the sidewalk. Waymo says it is committed to keeping riders safe and earning the community’s trust, calling this experience “unacceptable” and saying it is making changes to prevent anything like it from happening again.

The company told CBS LA its rider support team checked in with the rider during and after the incident, that it aims to provide a safe and inclusive experience for all, and that it already has ways to address situations like this, but is actively improving them

“We’re committed to keeping our riders safe and earning the trust of the communities where we operate. This experience was unacceptable, and we are actively implementing changes to address this,” Waymo said in a statement.

It is still not clear how the man got into the vehicle, or whether he stayed inside after a previous trip. The LAPD has not said if the man has been arrested.

Detectives are reviewing video and working with Waymo as the company expands its driverless service throughout LA. The company is reminding riders to double-check any car before getting in and to call 911 immediately if something doesn’t look right.

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KCBS

By Laurie Perez

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Joey Morales, known as the “Cone King” on TikTok, has made it his mission to stop people from using the orange pylons to reserve street parking along Los Angeles’ busy roads.

“I started this about 2023, early 2023 is when I fully started going in with it,” he said. “I want to say I’ve, at least, removed over 5,000 off of Los Angeles streets.”

It’s against city code to block the street with anything without a permit. Residents can call 311 to report it, but Morales turned into a vigilante parking enforcement officer after struggling to find street parking himself.

“A lot of people would say it’s a Karen move,” Morales said. “It is, but at the end of the day, you can’t pick up a public parking spot and assume that because it’s in front of your house, it belongs to you.”

With more than 20,000 followers on TikTok, Morales records himself reclaiming the open curb space from those he considers entitled. The Robin Hood of parking also takes requests to remove cones from neighborhoods around South LA.

“I had over 3,000 messages that I get on a weekly basis from residents here in South LA who are having the same issue with everybody,” he said.

Many of the cones belong to the LA Department of Transportation or Public Works, which he returns to the city.

Not everyone likes what he’s doing. A man confronted him for taking a cone on Wednesday night. Still, LA’s Cone King remains undeterred, believing he’s filling a need the community wants and needs.

“I don’t show up to an area unless I’ve been requested,” he said. “If I’m showing up, it’s because multiple people in that area have already contacted me and the city has done absolutely nothing about it.”

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