Author: CNN

WBZ

By Logan Hall

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    MARLBORO, Massachusetts (WBZ) — For the first time ever, the Massachusetts Nipmuc third- and fourth-grade flag football Super Bowl champion team is made up entirely of girls.

The team made history on Sunday in Marlboro with an electric come-from-behind victory against an all-boys team to claim the championship trophy. The girls were down one point, then after getting a safety with less than a minute left, they won 32 to 31.

“Just to watch them progress, to catch the ball now, to understand plays and to make defensive plays. It’s just amazing to watch these girls,” said Coach Nader Hamed.

The Nipmuc Flag Football League has been working to grow participation and encourage more girls to get involved, and this season they were finally able to form a full girls’ team. But without another all-girls team to play against, the league decided to have them play against the boys’ teams.

“These girls right here, they never let up. They just keep going, and it’s awesome to see,” said league president Michael Curry. “I’m proud of every one of them.”

Many of the players started the season as beginners, but quickly grew to become the best team in the league in their very first season.

Standout Bell Phillips scored four touchdowns for her team in the championship game.

“This is a big deal for me, this is my first year ever playing flag football,” Phillips said. “So it’s really important that I can help all my teammates and that I’ve made it this far, and to compete with people who’ve maybe been playing for three years or more. So it means a lot.”

People say that it was the grit and determination of this team that fueled their success. The win marks a milestone for the Nipmuc league and they hope to see more and more girls join the league in the future.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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KDKA

By Michael Guise, Ricky Sayer

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — First responders rescued 27 passengers stuck on board the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

Crews safely removed the passengers after the east and west cars “unexpectedly stopped working” during a trip, according to Adam Brandolph, a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Regional Transit. The incline stopped working around 2:25 p.m. when the cars stopped about 40 feet short of their stations.

“It started going up. And as soon as it started to pick up speed, it just stopped,” passenger Trevor Graham said. “It just froze.”

The five passengers in the west car, the car closest to the upper station, were rescued by 4:20 p.m., and the 22 passengers on the east car were rescued by 6 p.m. A Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire ladder truck was brought in around 5:30 p.m. to help rescue the passengers on the east car faster. At first, ropes were used to bring passengers to safety.

“It was a little bit tenuous,” passenger Gary Leikam said.

Emergency crews remained in contact with the passengers during the incident. No injuries were reported.

“It was interesting,” Graham said. “I didn’t think my day would turn out the way it did.”

Brandolph said crews tried to “restart” the Mon Incline ” a few times” before removing the passengers. The cause of the shutdown is under investigation.

“I want to extend my deepest thanks to the first responders – paramedics, firefighters, and police officers – who helped get these riders to safety,” PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman said in a news release. “I also want to apologize to the riders who were inconvenienced today and thank them for remaining calm in a high stress situation.”

The incline will remain closed through at least Monday morning, Brandolph said. Until it reopens, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will utilize shuttle buses from the bus stop at Station Square to the incline’s upper station.

The Mon Incline, which opened in 1870, is the oldest continuously operating funicular railway in the U.S. It underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade in 2023, but still has faced troubles, including multiple closures in 2024.

First responders attend training exercises to prepare for emergencies on the Mon Incline.

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KPIX

By Itay Hod

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — In a cramped garage right across from San Francisco’s Dolores Park, something prehistoric has emerged.

“It looks like it’s good to go,” Trevor Mead said, making a final check before his latest transformation.

For the past three years, Mead, a San Francisco lawyer and artist, has been working on a monster of a project. He flips a switch, steps inside, adjusts the controls — and just like that, the creature comes to life.

Meet the Doloresaurus, a seven-foot-tall, fifteen-foot-long glowing dinosaur on a mission to light up people’s lives. About once a week, he roams the neighborhood, stomping his way into people’s hearts.

“That is the best Halloween costume I’ve ever seen,” said local Stephanie Gladney.

“Only in San Francisco! Trust, only in San Francisco,” added Brendon Milan-Howells, another parkgoer.

Mead said the idea first hatched in 2023, when he saw a dinosaur art installation and wondered, “What if I made my own?” Only his version is less Jurassic Park and more Dolores Park.

“It is spreading joy at exactly the time and place we need it the most,” Mead said.

With PVC bones and skin made of foam lined with LED lights, the Doloresaurus can roam the streets for up to six hours at a time. Mead said this is just the first hatchling — he hopes to build a whole herd so others can roam their own stomping grounds.

At the end of the night, this dino headed back to his cave, a reminder that sometimes, even the craziest idea can spark a kind of joy that never goes extinct.

“When I’m done, I’m tired,” Mead said, “but it’s always satisfying, especially when nothing broke.”

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WBZ

By Brandon Truitt

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    WATERTOWN, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Thousands of dollars are missing from a Watertown, Massachusetts church after police said someone walked in and stole the donations.

Watertown police said roughly $9,000 in donations was stolen from St. Patrick’s Church on Main Street sometime after 5:30 p.m. on Monday. A call reporting the missing money came in around 8:30 Tuesday morning.

“Anytime a church is broken into people feel bad,” said Father Timothy Kearney of St. Patrick’s.

The reverend went on to say that in these economic times people are already stretching every dollar to continue to make donations to the church.

“In a lot of churches, the people who give often are giving something else up so that they can give,” Father Kearney said. “So, you feel bad about that, but you also feel bad too that you know somebody was desperate enough they had to steal from a church.”

The money was set to cover the basics, the day-to-day operational costs of electricity, heat and other essentials to keep the church up and running.

Watertown police have been tight tight-lipped on the details of how this person got in or what, if any, evidence they have been able to gather. They are asking for the public’s help to turn over surveillance footage and come forward with any information.

“We try to look at it as best we can, the way that we think Jesus would look at it,” said Father Kearney. “He would not want the robbery, but he would also want forgiveness.”

The church says its youth and upcoming Christmas programs should not be impacted.

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KPIX

By Amanda Hari

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — People in San Francisco’s Mission District are mourning after a neighborhood cat was killed.

KitKat was the store cat at Randa’s Market on 16th Street near Valencia, but late Monday night, the shop owner says the cat was hit by a Waymo. Now, a growing memorial occupies the space just outside the market.

“It was everybody’s cat,” said neighbor Margarita Lawa. “Everybody loved KitKat.”

So much so, most people couldn’t remember when they met him. He was a feline fixture in the community, interacting with everyone who walked into the market.

Lara described him as affectionate and social. She says once Kitkat got locked out, she spent the night with him.

“I discovered how loveable he is, he was,” said Lara, correcting herself. “So lovable.”

He was nicknamed “the Mayor of 16th Street” and had essentially become local royalty.

Lara spent Wednesday afternoon curating an altar for him, but she doesn’t take credit for it.

“This was built by the community,” Lara stated. “This was one hundred percent built by the community. I came to give it a base and fabric and some place to keep it safe. My co-worker took that picture of KitKat. Someone brought him a crown, people brought him mice, little toy mice.”

She believes the neighborhood needs this space.

“It’s closure,” Lara stated. “They’re able to come together, celebrate this being’s life and there’s closure in that.”

Flowers, candles, and cards with heartfelt messages continue to accumulate at the altar.

Owner Mike Zeidan says he couldn’t have imagined this outpouring.

“It’s really touching, and we are very thankful and appreciative of all the love and support,” Zeidan said.

Zeidan says KitKat was killed late Monday night, after being hit by a Waymo.

One neighbor recalls witnessing the aftermath.

“I got off the muni, and I walked up and saw,” the neighbor explained. “At first I thought it was a human friend, and then I recognized it was a different friend.”

But that doesn’t make the reality any less devastating.

For nearly a decade, people looked forward to visiting KitKat. He brightened their days. Now, they just have the memories, but at least Lara knows she helped to create a space where everyone can share them.

“There’s nothing like this,” Lara said. “Everybody knows there’s nothing like this. No other cat is going to be like this. It’s already a big void.”

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KDKA

By John Shumway

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Last week, you probably heard the reports that the home of our Pittsburgh Steelers, Acrisure Stadium, made the list of the most haunted football stadiums.

It also left us wondering…just what ghost might be the ones doing the haunting? There was no séance involved, just a Zoom with the keeper of Pittsburgh history.

Pittsburgh is a community that is rich in history, and there’s no better source for a good history-based ghost story than the Heinz History Center’s Andy Masich, who took us back to July 1755 and Braddock’s defeat in the French and Indian War.

“It was a massacre, the British lost 500 killed on the battlefield, and many prisoners were taken back to the point,” he said.

But they weren’t taken to the point, which was then the French outpost at Fort Duquesne.

“They sent those prisoners over to a place called ‘Kill Buck Island,’ which is right about where Acrisure Stadium is today,” Masich said.

If you’ve never heard of Kill Buck Island, there’s a good reason for that: at some point, the land between the island and the North Shore was filled in.

“The prisoners from Braddock’s defeat were tortured and burned at the stake on that island; their screams could be heard echoing off of Mount Washington,” he explained.

All of that happened on the ground where the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers play football today.

“That’s possibly a reason for some unusual activity, especially at night over on the North Shore,” Masich said.

That’s not the only possible spirit connection. The other one has a football connection to the first professional football player, Pudge Heffelfinger.

“The Allegheny Athletic Association paid Pudge Heffelfinger $500, but he didn’t want to risk his amateur status, so they kept it on the down-low,” Masich explained.

Pudge was an amazing mountain of a man, a Yale graduate, and he led the Allegheny Athletic Association to undefeated seasons from 1888 to 1891.

“To this day, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has not deemed it appropriate to name Pudge Heffelfinger to the Hall of Fame,” he said. “It’s possible that Pudge could still be walking the corridors at Acrisure Stadium.”

So there you have it: tortured prisoners and Pudge Heffelfinger.

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KYW

By Ross DiMattei

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    ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (KYW) — A police officer in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is being praised for his bravery after diving into chilly bay waters to save an injured dog earlier this month.

Officer Matt Schmidt was among those called to the scene on Oct. 15, after reports of a tan and white pit bull that appeared to have been abandoned and was walking with a limp, according to police.

When the dog evaded animal control officers by leaping into the bay, Schmidt made a split-second decision to follow it into the cold water.

“I was like, ‘OK, it’s struggling, the current’s strong, it’s getting weighted down, and it’s just going to tire out,'” Schmidt told CBS News Philadelphia. “I just felt like, clearly, a boat is not going to get here in time. So this is not a choice. I have to go if I want this dog to live.”

Body camera footage released by the department shows Schmidt shed his uniform and slip into the chilly water. Schmidt estimates he swam about 100 yards before he reached the dog. He managed to secure a bite pole around the animal’s neck before slowly guiding it back toward shore.

“Once I had him in my control, I’m just basically talking to him,” Schmidt said. “‘OK, buddy, just help me. Swim with me, not away from me. Don’t make this double hard.'”

Drone video captured the rescue from above as Schmidt and the dog made their way back to land, eventually reaching a marshy area where Schmidt pulled the animal to safety.

Animal control officers treated the dog for its limp and other minor injuries. As of last week, officials said the dog is recovering well and in good health.

Despite the widespread praise, Schmidt downplayed his heroics.

“Honestly, I was just trying to do my job,” he said. “I’m just glad I got to save the dog.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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KPIX

By Katie Nielsen

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    OAKLAND, California (KPIX) — It’s not exactly the jewelry heist of the Louvre in Paris, but the Oakland Museum of California says thieves made off with more than 1,000 priceless objects from their collection.

The museum has the largest collection of items with significant California-specific history – mostly objects used in everyday life throughout the history of the state.

The director, Lori Fogarty, says the objects that were stolen are priceless in terms of historical value, but not something that would be incredibly valuable in terms of selling on the black market.

“We have one of the greatest holdings of California history anywhere,” Fogerty said, adding that the museum’s collection includes more than 2,000,000 items, only a handful of which can be on display at any given time.

“We in our collection have over 5,000 Native American baskets,” Fogarty said.

Many of the items in the museum’s collection are stored in an off-site warehouse, which is where burglars broke in sometime late into the night on Oct. 15, or the early morning of Oct. 16.

“It is heartbreaking for people who really dedicate their careers to preserving and stewarding and caring for and presenting objects of cultural and artistic importance,” Fogarty said.

Some of the items stolen include an old photograph, some jewelry, a woven Native American basket, and scrimshaws –intricate ivory carvings – leading Fogarty to believe this was probably a crime of opportunity.

“I think it is very possible that the people who stole these items don’t really know themselves what they have,” Fogarty said.

Stealing from a museum is a federal offense, so the FBI Art Crime Team is investigating along with the Oakland Police Department. CBS Bay Area spoke with former FBI agent Jeff Harp about the specialized task force.

“It’s a small cadre of agents across the nation, probably less than 20,” Harp said. “They have a lot of expertise in how these deals are done where a lot of times these irreplaceable art pieces are sold. Sometimes it’s done underground, but these guys have a good network of informants and information that allows them to track this stuff.”

In 2012 and 2013, a man broke into the museum itself, stealing items from the Gold Rush exhibit both times. Oakland police were able to catch the suspect when a pawn shop owner in Chinatown recognized a stolen jewelry box and called police.

Fogarty hopes that by releasing photos of some of the items stolen two weeks ago, eagle-eyed members of the public might be able to help the museum recover them.

“If people are at swap meets or they’re at auctions or they’re in a pawn shop or antiques store and something looks off, please let us know,” she said.

Anyone with information about the heist can also contact Oakland police.

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KCBS

By Rina Nakano

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    TORRANCE, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A 10-year-old boy from Torrance made history as the youngest stem cell donor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, giving his father a second chance at life.

There’s nothing more that Nick Mondek loves more than being a dad. But in 2022, an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia put the then 45-year-old on his deathbed. “I’m thinking about my sons, and I’m thinking about how I’m not ready to move on yet,” Mondek said.

Thankfully, his older brother Dave was a match. Several rounds of chemotherapy erased Mondek’s cancerous cells and replaced them with his brother’s. By the end of the year, he was able to return to work as an anesthesiologist.

“It was an incredible feeling just to have someone that you’ve idolized your whole life come and save you,” Mondek said.

Unfortunately, remission didn’t last long, and in April this year, Mondek said the cancer came back “ferociously fast.”

With his brother Dave no longer an option as the cancer found a way around his stem cells, Mondek searched for cousins in the National Marrow Donor Program, but no donor match was found.

Desperation got him thinking about a friend with lymphoma who received a donation from his 19-year-old son. Mondek wondered if his own son could do the same for him, “But he’s only 9 and he’s 70 pounds,” he said.

Tests revealed that his older son Stevie, was a 50% match, enough to confuse the current cancer cells and replace them.

“I just told him that we were looking for other donors because I didn’t want him to feel pressured, like this was something he had to do. And I just left it up to him,” Mondek said.

Stevie says he didn’t even hesitate; the answer was obvious. “I wanted to help him get rid of his cancer, and I wasn’t nervous at all,” he said. In July, Stevie made history by becoming the youngest stem cell donor ever at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The transplant was a success, with tests showing that 99% of Mondek’s body is made of Stevie’s healthy cells.

“He donated six million stem cells to save my life, so it’s not just an honor to call him my son, I’m proud to call him my hero,” Mondek said.

For Stevie, the experience has profoundly impacted him. “I want to be a doctor in baseball,” he said.

“He’s great at baseball, and he’s already on his way to becoming a doctor; he already saved one patient,” Mondek said with a beaming smile. “So, he can save more.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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KTVT

By Doug Myers, Amelia Mugavero, Steven Rosenbaum

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    FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — Two Fort Worth police officers on Tuesday recounted the harrowing moments when a 1-year-old girl was trapped beneath a flipped SUV last week.

In a fast-paced rescue, the officers and nearby bystanders tipped the vehicle upright, allowing life-saving aid to be performed on the child.

The crash happened early Thursday morning at Eastchase Parkway and Interstate 30, unfolding directly in the path of Sgt. Ryan Nichols and Officer Edwin Bounds. The officers hadn’t been dispatched — they were simply driving nearby when the violent rollover occurred.

A dramatic video released Friday by Fort Worth police showed the moment Nichols, Bounds and a group of bystanders rescued the baby.

Nichols performed CPR on the baby, while Bounds cleared her airway and comforted her with the same nicknames he uses for his own daughters.

“There was a vehicle on top of the baby… the odds are not in our favor,” Nichols said.

Nichols described the emotional and spiritual weight of the rescue.

“Initially walking up, it was — I hate to say it — just another accident,” Nichols said. “And then you recognize that the mom’s down… and immediately the priorities just switch.”

He recalled pulling the baby from the wreckage, believing she was dead, and praying as he began CPR.

“Just praying on the inside that the Lord was going to work the problem for us,” he said.

When the baby finally cried, Nichols said, “That baby breathed. Everybody else on the scene was able to take a breath.”

Bounds, a father of three daughters, said the experience was deeply personal.

“Nothing can really prepare you mentally for seeing a baby in that condition,” he said. “You definitely go home and hug your babies a little tighter that night.”

He described the baby’s cry as the first glimmer of hope.

“Just hearing that first little cry was the sweetest sound I could hear,” he said. “It was definitely a sound of encouragement to keep going.”

Both officers emphasized the critical role of bystanders — an estimated 20 to 30 people helped, from tending to the mother to lifting the vehicle and stopping traffic.

“You can’t move a car with two people,” Bounds said. “So without the people who stopped, it wouldn’t have ended up very well.”

He added, “There are good people in this world, and the video shows it… Without the people who stopped, it wouldn’t have ended up very well.”

Bounds visited the hospital the next morning, driven by concern and a sleepless night. He spoke with the mother and two other family members, who expressed deep gratitude to him and Sgt. Nichols.

“They all had nothing but good things and thanks and told me to tell Sergeant Nichols thank you,” he said. “From what I understand and what I’ve been told, they’re doing very well.”

Faith was a recurring theme throughout the officers’ reflections.

“Faith drives every decision we do or don’t make out here,” Nichols said. “We’re not perfect. We’re works in progress. And we need grace as much as anybody else.”

Nichols has served with the department for 19 years, while Bounds has for 15. Both said the incident ranks among the most unforgettable moments of their careers.

“Memorable? Yes. Scary? Yes. Something you don’t ever want to experience? Yes,” Nichols said.

Meanwhile, Chief Eddie Garcia thanked the motorists and residents who stepped in to help, praising the two officers as examples of the department’s best.

“These officers and their heroic actions saved this baby,” Garcia said. “They treated that baby as if it was their own. And that needed to be shared.”

He emphasized that their actions reflect the dedication of Fort Worth’s 1,800 officers and expressed hope for the baby’s full recovery.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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