Category: CNN Regional

By Jermont Terry

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    Illinois (WBBM) — The Markham Park District executive director caused quite the scene last weekend after hiring a helicopter for her daughter’s prom send-off, which landed in a public park without proper authorization.

Now, there’s new fallout about who paid for the stunt and how the city wants a restraining order to stop the spending.

There’s a split reaction about this prom helicopter send-off, with some saying no one was harmed while others, including city leaders, say the park’s director didn’t have the right to authorize the photo op for her daughter—a photo shoot with at least the deposit charged to a credit card that taxpayers pay for.

Less than a week after this helicopter landed at a park, catching many by surprise, the stunt for the park director’s daughter has turned political.

The Park District’s executive director, Quintina Brown, told officers she had the OK for the helicopter landing, but city leaders never authorized the landing in the public park where children were playing. The pilot told officers that day he had approval to land, even presenting a signed notice by the park director herself to the questioning officer

The company later handed over an invoice to the city attorney. The receipt raises many deeper questions.

The bill was for a minimum of $800 for one hour. At the bottom, there’s a credit card number linked to Brown. She named Markham Parks as the company and even used the address of the fieldhouse and provided her signature on a taxpayer-funded credit card.

“The plot thickens, as they say,” said city attorney Burt Odelson.

He says there’s no way Brown accidentally entered all that information by mistake. He also spoke with the helicopter company.

“They told me that the deposit was charged to the card, and they have not been successful in getting the remaining $800 off the card, for whatever reason,” he said.

Using the park district credit card either to pay or hold the reservation is why Markham’s mayor, Roger Agpawa, says residents should be concerned, asking why no one questioned the purchase.

In fact, the city started questioning the spending by the park district and its board in the fall of 2025.

CBS News Chicago reported when Brown was first caught on body cam getting served with an injunction. Leaders alleged she and the park board were not paying bills and left most parks with broken equipment and deplorable conditions.

“They’ve been landing helicopters in different ways over there,” said Agpawa.

There’s a line in the invoice that says every additional six minutes over the hour would be $80. It was learned that the helicopter was grounded for at least three hours.

Now the question is who will pay for the extra minutes and for the original booking? The company that booked it, Markham’s Park District, which is funded by taxpayers, or Brown herself.

CBS News Chicago reached out to Brown about the matter, but has yet to hear back.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Chloe Adams

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    ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — Gas prices have surpassed the $4 mark across North Carolina due to global oil supply disruptions tied to the war in Iran, and local rideshare drivers struggling to make up for the increased costs are changing how they operate.

Joel Bender, an Uber driver from Buncombe County, said he has been turning down more trips than he accepts to offset heightened fuel costs.

“Right now, I’m at a 10% acceptance rate, and I’m at about a 20% cancel rate,” Bender said.

AAA reports prices across the state are averaging out around $4.17 for a gallon of regular as of May 13, 2026. Meanwhile, the national average is spilling above $4.50 — about $1.50 more since the war started.

Bender said he is questioning whether or not he is getting back how much he spends to pump gas into his tank. Bender, a nearly decade-long rideshare driver, said he is not alone in this.

“There’s still some drivers who just say, ‘Listen, I’m going to make sure that I’m not screwed on this ride,’” Bender said.

Bender created a Facebook group with almost 700 members — a place where rideshare drivers can connect and support one another.

He said drivers part of this group have opened up to him about how they are dealing with these rising costs. Bender said the gas hike is especially burdensome on people whose primary income comes from rideshare driving.

“There are a number of drivers who do this to put food on the table and to make their monthly obligations,” Bender said.

He said more drivers — even ones who’ve been driving for years — are choosing to steer clear from the business altogether, no longer helping some pay their bills.

AAA said gas prices are averaging out to be the highest they have been since 2022 with other states, like California, exceeding $6 for a gallon.

While Uber said it is expanding its fuel discount program for drivers and couriers through May 26, Bender said this is still not enough to help him make up for losses.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kelly Doty

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    BUNCOMBE COUNTY, North Carolina (WLOS) — A 16-year-old charged with three counts of first-degree murder after three of her family members were found dead is back in western North Carolina. Star Grant waived extradition in Tennessee and returned to Asheville on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at about 12:25 p.m., according to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office.

Warrants for Grant, who is being charged as an adult in the deaths of her mother Kim Grant, Travis Grant and his mother, Sharon Grant, were filed with Buncombe County court.

Grant is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy, along with 28-year-old Devan Loving. Loving and Grant were found and taken into custody in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on May 8, 2026.

According to Grant’s warrants, the offenses happened on May 1. The bodies of Kim, Travis and Sharon Grant were discovered the evening of May 7, 2026, during a welfare check at 18 Ashworth Drive in Fairview.

Arrest warrants for Grant claim the 16-year-old “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder” Travis, Kim and Sharon Grant. Regarding the felony conspiracy charge, the warrants say she “unlawfully and feloniously did conspire with Devan Oneal Loving to commit the felony first-degree murder against Travis Grant, Kimberly Grant and Sharon Grant by planning and conspiring among each other before carrying out the murder.”

According to the Sevier County Detention Center, Devan Loving is still listed as an inmate there as of Wednesday afternoon. Buncombe County authorities anticipate Loving to be extradited to western North Carolina later in the week.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office says Grant will be placed in a juvenile detention facility in Alexander County.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Mike Toole

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — Quintayvious Hutchins, a New England Patriots draft pick from Boston College, has been charged with an assault at a dorm on campus, according to court documents.

Hutchins, 23, of Needham, is charged with misdemeanor assault and battery on a family or household member for an alleged incident on Tuesday at Voute Hall on Commonwealth Avenue in Chestnut Hill.

Quintayvious Hutchins police report According to a Boston College police report filed with the criminal complaint, officers were called to the fourth floor of the dorm just before 8 p.m. Tuesday “for a male and female fighting in the hallway.”

One of the witnesses, a resident advisor, told police the two “were pushing each other” and that Hutchins grabbed the woman by the neck.

“He said she was cheating on him and he choked and yelled at her,” the RA wrote in her witness statement. She also wrote that “the ‘choke’ was a firm grab to the neck not strangulation.”

According to the report, Hutchins told officers the two had an argument earlier over food and he left. He said he came back about 45 minutes later to get his belongings and the woman “threw his belongings in the hallway.” A ceiling tile also fell during the dispute, police said.

“She started making a scene while ppl were around all I was trying to do was go to her room so I can get my stuff,” Hutchins wrote in his witness statement.

The woman did not want a photo of her neck taken, according to the police report. Hutchins was arrested a short time later and taken to the Newton Police department.

Police said the woman “became visibly sad” when she was told Hutchins was arrested.

“I’m ok nothing happened,” the woman wrote in her witness statement.

Hutchins was arraigned Wednesday morning in Newton District Court. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf and he was released on a promise to return to court for the next hearing in the case.

Gabriel Valadez, a senior at Boston College, said the incident happened right outside his door. “There was yelling, there was screaming, he was throwing insults. So, it was a big affair,” Valadez told WBZ-TV.

He said once he heard the shouting, he started watching through his peephole in his door. “He was like in her face, from what I saw, so just it was like right up close, and it looked like it could’ve turned nasty at any moment if it hadn’t already,” Valadez said.

Friends of the alleged victim want a full investigation. “It’s very shocking, I think it has no place here obviously,” John Forry, a Boston College senior told WBZ. “So, I just hope the response is adequate and everything is investigated properly.”

Patriots statement on Quintayvious Hutchins “We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins. We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will not have further comment at this time,” the Patriots said in a statement.

There has been no comment yet from Hutchins or his lawyer.

Who is Quintayvious Hutchins? Hutchins, an edge rusher at Boston College, was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, 247th overall.

“If I could be honest, I didn’t think I was going to get a call,” Hutchins told reporters after the Patriots drafted him on April 25. “So, getting that call from the Patriots was like a dream come true, and hope and faith rising inside of me, knowing that I have another chance to go showcase my talent.”

The 6-foot-3, 245 pound linebacker grew up in Alabama, before spending the last five years at BC. He described himself after the draft as a “dynamic special teams player.”

Meant to be #NFL #NFLDRAFT pic.twitter.com/P4ig9HM4LK — Boston College Football (@BCFootball) April 25, 2026

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel personally worked with Hutchins during BC’s pro day before the draft. Vrabel was not with the team the day Hutchins was drafted. He was away that weekend getting counseling in the wake of the Dianna Russini photo scandal.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Leondra Head

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    SOUTH COBB, Georgia (WUPA) — Graduation season is in full effect, and for South Cobb High School senior, Mackenzie Dailey, her walk across the graduation stage in a couple of weeks will be monumental.

Dailey has faced homelessness and adversity, but her love of music kept her going to school.

“I was homeless through freshman and sophomore year. I was living at a hotel. I watched my dad pass away from fentanyl. There was a lot of drug use. It was really hard for me as a kid to witness and grow up,” Dailey said.

It was a situation she was determined to endure.

“I was sold out of a mom. I was sold out of the father. I was sold out of everything. I was sold out of a house because of drugs,” Dailey said.

The South Cobb senior says Jackie Smiley’s music class kept her walking through the school doors as she faced uncertainty.

“Junior year, it got better. I said to myself, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want to do. I want to create music.’ It kept me in school and kept me coming back even through when I was homeless,” Dailey said.

Smiley says Dailey’s is a story of perseverance.

“I met her when she was a freshman, and life was falling apart around her. I’ve seen that kid get knocked down so many times,” Smiley said.

She says Dailey has been instrumental in the school’s performing arts programs.

“She runs our performing arts center for some of our events. Then she took that further when we started DJing and went to shadow at venues. She’s worked her way up to working festivals. She’s a driven young lady,” Dailey said.

Dailey’s passion led to her getting DJ gigs on the weekends.

“I work at many raves and many clubs,” she said.

She’s now looking forward to graduation.

“There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Dailey said.

After graduating, the senior plans to continue DJing and working in music production.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Chase Rutledge

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    MCLOUD, Oklahoma (KOCO) — An Oklahoma family is showing off their patriotism and honoring 250 years since America declared independence from England by painting a giant American flag in their yard.

Sky 5 flew over the home, showing a beautifully painted American flag in the front yard of their home. The painted flag was surrounded by real American flags and signs honoring the 250th anniversary celebration.

“This is something that’ll definitely make you feel proud to be an American here, especially for those of us that have served in the military and have fought so hard to maintain this independence. We do appreciate whoever this was that painted this,” said Sky 5 Pilot Chase Rutledge, who retired from the Oklahoma National Guard in March 2018 after serving for 26 years. “This is something that can definitely put a smile on your face as we go into this Fourth of July, celebrating 250 years as the United States of America. So, we do appreciate this very, very much.”

A friend of the family who painted the American flag told KOCO 5 that they plan to keep it painted through Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Cody Alcorn

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Georgia (WXIA) — Days after a Douglas County high school teacher was arrested and accused of having sex with a student, parents are now raising a new set of concerns, questioning not only what was happening inside the classroom, but whether students were being properly taught at all.

Parents reached out to 11Alive over the weekend, alleging students in Maris Nichols’ biology classes at Alexander High School were not taught the curriculum expected throughout the school year.

Parents said the allegations involving a student are already disturbing, but now fear some students may have fallen behind academically as testing, grades and course credit deadlines approach.

Nichols, a biology teacher at Alexander High School and operations manager for the school’s football team, was arrested Friday after investigators accused her of having sex with a student on two occasions, including inside a classroom closet on campus and later inside an SUV off campus in Douglas County.

Court records obtained by 11Alive show Nichols is charged with two counts of improper sexual contact by employee, agent or foster parent.

According to warrants, investigators allege Nichols had sex with a student inside a closet shared between classrooms at Alexander High School in April. A second warrant accuses Nichols of having sex with the same student earlier this month inside a Hummer H2 parked at the end of a driveway at a Douglasville home.

Nichols bonded out of jail over the weekend. The criminal investigation remains ongoing.

Now, parents said their frustration is growing not only over the allegations themselves, but over what they describe as a lack of communication and transparency from both the school and district leaders.

Some parents told 11Alive their children described an environment where little instruction was taking place inside the biology classroom throughout much of the school year. Others questioned how the situation was allowed to continue without intervention.

One parent, who asked not to be identified to protect their child’s privacy, said families are still searching for answers.

“As parents, our highest priority is the safety and well being of our children, a responsibility we expect every institution and individual involved to share,” the parent said.

“We’re not asking for special treatment. We are asking for transparency, accountability, and fairness. Unfortunately, our concerns have repeatedly been met with resistance, limited communication, and a lack of meaningful reassurance that appropriate measures are being taken to protect all children involved, including our own.”

11Alive reached out to the Douglas County School System regarding the allegations that Nichols failed to teach the required biology curriculum throughout the school year.

In a statement sent Monday evening, a district spokesperson said, “The Douglas County School System is committed to the academic success of every student. We are not able to comment further on this matter at this time.”

11Alive has also repeatedly asked district leaders whether Nichols remains employed by the school system. Those questions have gone unanswered.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kaitlyn Ross

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — Rodney Taylor, the Georgia barber whose immigration detention case drew national attention, spoke publicly for the first time Monday since he was released from ICE custody after spending 15 months inside Stewart Detention Center in south Georgia.

Taylor was released on conditional parole while he continues appealing his deportation case, according to his attorneys.

Taylor, a triple amputee who worked as a barber in Tucker, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over a conviction from his teens that was later pardoned by the state of Georgia.

“Me walking through that door, it’s a feeling, it’s a feeling I can’t even describe,” Taylor told 11Alive after his release.

Taylor came to the United States from Liberia as a child to receive medical treatment. Born with a genetic condition affecting his limbs, he underwent amputations after arriving in the U.S. and has lived in the country for decades.

When he was 16 years old, Taylor pleaded guilty to burglary. He later received a pardon from the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles in 2010.

Despite the pardon, ICE detained Taylor in early 2025 and moved to deport him to Liberia, a country he said he has no memory of since arriving in the United States as a toddler.

His case sparked criticism and concern from immigration advocates, elected officials and supporters across Georgia.

During his detention, Taylor alleged he was denied proper accommodations for his disability and retaliated against after speaking out about conditions inside the facility.

11Alive reached out to ICE and CoreCivic, the company that operates Stewart Detention Center, for comment regarding Taylor’s allegations. In a statement, the company claimed Taylor had “every accommodation made for his disability.” (Read more of the statement at the bottom of this story).

Taylor said leaving detention brought relief, but he remains focused on the people still being held inside.

“These are human beings, yet they treat us like cattle ready to be slaughtered, or in this case, deported,” Taylor said.

Over the course of his detention, Taylor’s family regularly traveled several hours to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin to visit him.

Even while detained, Taylor continued cutting hair for fellow detainees preparing for immigration hearings, according to his family and attorneys.

His case also drew support from members of Congress, including Lucy McBath.

“They spoke out and they refused to let Rodney’s story be ignored,” McBath said. “That’s the kind of love and determination that creates change.”

Taylor’s wife, Mildred Pierre, told 11Alive the couple faced significant challenges while trying to maintain their relationship during his detention, including while planning their wedding.

“Even the simple thing of getting married, that was not easy,” Pierre said with a laugh. “And Rodney owes me a big wedding.”

Taylor remains on conditional release while his immigration appeal continues. His attorneys say they are continuing to fight for his right to remain in the United States permanently.

“One thing remains true,” Taylor said. “The power is still with the people. That power cannot be deported, it cannot be detained. And it definitely cannot be silenced.”

Below is the statement 11Alive received from the company.

Mr. Taylor had every accommodation made for his disability. He was offered the option to come to the medical unit daily to charge his prosthesis equipment, which he did regularly. On days he chose not to come to the medical unit, he had access to charge his medical equipment in the multipurpose room in his housing unit. SDC medical staff and his unit manager were all aware of the situation and helped facilitate his needs.

Individuals at SDC have daily access to sign up for medical care, and our clinic is staffed with licensed healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors and dentists who contractually meet the highest standards of care, as verified by multiple audits and inspections. ICE’s Health Services Corps (IHSC) conducted a site audit of SDC’s health services on June 2, 2025, and found no deficiencies.

SDC’s water comes from the same municipal source that serves the surrounding community and is subject to regular independent testing. Our staff regularly drinks the water. The physical conditions of the facility, including plumbing and infrastructure, are maintained in accordance with federal detention standards and subject to regular inspection and audit by our government partners without prior notice.

CoreCivic maintains a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against individuals in our care. Detainees have multiple avenues to raise concerns, including toll-free telephone numbers and direct access to management staff. Concerns can also be submitted through ICE’s ERO Detention, Removals and Information Line.

CoreCivic is proud of the more than 400 dedicated staff members at SDC who show up every day committed to the safety, dignity and well-being of everyone in our care.

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.