Author: CNN

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.

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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.

KYW

By Siafa Lewis, Tom Gardiner

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    ABSECON, New Jersey (KYW) — Most 6-year-olds have no concept of how challenging life can be. Aurora Dessicino of Absecon, New Jersey, knows all too well. A year ago, Aurora was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease.

Being the center of attention in an unknown setting didn’t sit well with Aurora, at least not at first. But the nerves dissipated as Make-A-Wish New Jersey and The Learning Experience in Blackwood rolled out the red carpet to announce that Aurora, her mom, dad and three brothers will soon be heading to Walt Disney World.

“Today so far has been overwhelming,” Joseph Dessicino, Aurora’s father, said. “Just full of faith and hope and gratefullness.”

“It’s an exciting day for sure that Aurora’s well enough to have a wish,” mother Gigi Dessicino said.

What you saw on Wednesday — the joy, the smiles, the party — was the happy after all. But the story behind how Aurora arrived at this day is hard to comprehend.

“Aurora was born perfectly healthy,” Joseph Dessicino said. “And out of nowhere, she got this super rare disease, pulmonary hypertension that only 2,000 people have in America and probably about 500 of them being children.”

“When we got to the hospital, they told us that if it were another day, another week, she wouldn’t have made it,” Gigi Dessicino said.

Aurora’s condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and life-threatening.

“We spent two months in the cardiac ICU,” Gigi Dessicino said. “She was in complete heart failure. To say we were shocked is an understatement.”

With the help of family, friends, their community in Absecon, their church, Joseph Dessicino’s union and a few calls from civic leaders, Aurora was able to receive an experimental medication that made all the difference.

“It’s truly amazing to see how far she has come,” Gigi Dessicino said. “We don’t know what her future holds, but we have so much hope.”

Not surprisingly, all the experiences her family has had have changed them.

“We celebrate all the little things in life that we used to take for granted,” Gigi Dessicino said. “And every day is truly a blessing with her.”

Aurora and her family will enjoy six nights in Kissimmee, including a special dining experience at the Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot with Aurora’s favorite princesses.

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, Brandon Truitt

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Two armed bank robberies in Boston Tuesday morning are believed to be connected, police say. A third bank was robbed in nearby Everett Tuesday afternoon, but police say the suspects taken into custody there are not responsible for the robberies in Boston.

The armed robberies in Boston occurred at a Santander Bank on Washington Street in Roxbury at 10:11 a.m., and a TD Bank on the American Legion Highway in Roslindale at 11:56 a.m.

“Both of today’s robberies are very active investigations,” a Boston police spokesperson said in a statement to WBZ-TV. “Preliminary information gathered by detectives indicates both robberies involve the same suspects.”

In Roxbury, police said two men entered the bank and robbed tellers at gunpoint. Police described one robber as a light-skinned man, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, with a medium build who was wearing a light blue Nike Tech hoodie, black pants, blue gloves and black face mask. The other robber was wearing a black Champion hoodie, with white lettering, black pants, blue gloves and a black face mask, police said.

In Roslindale, police said one of the robbers had the same black Champion hoodie, while the other wore a black hoodie with black pants, a black face mask, white and blue sneakers and blue gloves.

Radek Weirdeowski was inside the Roslindale bank at the time of the robbery. “I heard someone yelling behind me and two guys ran in,” Weirdeowski said. “One had a gun and started screaming that it was a robbery.”

He said it all happened so quickly. “While one guy was at the teller with the gun, the other guy was kind of rounding everyone else up,” he said. “And I thought we would all get robbed as well. But fortunately, they just took the bank’s money and took off.”

Police are looking for a blue Toyota RAV4 seen in both Boston robberies with license plate 4MXN78.

“Members of the public are advised to use caution, as a firearm was brandished during the incident,” Boston Police said.

Everett robbery arrests In Everett, just north of Boston, police made two arrests in another bank robbery Tuesday afternoon. The Eastern Bank at Broadway and Ferry Street was robbed at about 4:30 p.m., according to police.

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 Louisa Moller

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Massachusetts woman appeared in court on Tuesday, accused of faking her own cancer death in order to avoid having to face a judge for drunk driving and shoplifting charges.

Shannon Wilson shook her head in Plymouth District Court as prosecutors laid out the indictment against her.

“This is a defendant who was willing to fake her own death,” Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Alex Zane said.

Wilson is charged with one count each of furnishing false identifying information, obstruction of justice, forgery, uttering of a public record, and failure to appear after release on bail.

Woman accused of faking own death Prosecutors said the 45-year-old woman orchestrated the scheme to evade cases from 2022-2023. The first came in 2022 when she was arrested on a charge of operating under the influence.

“And this is when she first raises that she has terminal brain cancer,” Zane said, adding that Wilson told a Hingham judge at the time that she was dying.

They argue that she did the same thing during an arraignment for a shoplifting charge in Plymouth.

Then, prosecutors said Wilson stopped appearing in court. Defense attorneys reported that Wilson was in hospice care as her condition deteriorated.

“And ultimately, the counsel representing the defendant gives the court a screen grab or a print out of a text message that he received from that number he’s been communicating with that he believes is the defendant’s family of a death certificate from Rhode Island saying that she had passed away,” Zane said, saying the claim that Wilson died happened in May 2023.

Investigators looked at the grainy copy of the death certificate. The doctor whose signature was used, the hospice center listed, and the funeral home all had no record of Wilson’s death. Prosecutors determined the document was a fake.

Shannon Wilson charged in Massachusetts In August 2023, the person who previously posted Wilson’s $400 bail recovered the money after being informed she was dead. Several weeks later, prosecutors say Wilson showed up at the person’s house and allegedly admitted she had faked her death.

Wilson allegedly also duped her ex-fiancé, who she lived with in a Plymouth home.

“He indicated a week or so after the Hingham matter was dismissed, he actually thought that she was dead,” Zane said.

Wilson’s defense attorney argued that she was not the architect of the plan.

“She’s not the one who made these phone calls. She’s not the one who prepared the document that Mr. Zane referred to and she’s not the individual who submitted that to the court,” defense attorney Josh Werner said. Werner did not say who he believes sent in the fake death certificate.

Wilson pleaded not guilty and is being held on $50,000 bail.

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