Category: CNN Regional

By Sara Tenenbaum, Shardaa Gray

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    SOUTH ELGIN, Illinois (WBBM) — A law enforcement excavation is underway at a home in South Elgin, Illinois, as police look the remains of a teenager who vanished in 2016.

The Kane County State’s Attorney said the South Elgin Police Department and Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force are conducting their forensic excavation at a home in the 800 block of Revere Road. As of 9:30 a.m., large blue tents were set up around the home and there was a large law enforcement presence.

The blue tarp tents are set up at the front of the house, with one covering the entrance to the garage. It was not immediately clear if the digging was happening in front of, behind or inside the structure of the home.

The excavation is in connection to the 2016 disappearance of 17-year-old Kianna Galvin. She vanished the afternoon of May 6, after telling her sister she was going to Jim Hansen Park nearby. When she wasn’t heard from after a couple days, her parents reported her missing. They said at the time they waited because she didn’t qualify for an Amber Alert. Police later found her blood in a neighbor’s trash.

Galvin has not been seen since.

Galvin was initially considered a runaway. Her parents have said they believe if an alert about her disappearance had gone out earlier, her case could have already been solved.

Amber Alerts are only for people under 16 or people with disabilities who are believed to be in danger. In 2018, the state launched a new alert named for Galvin, called the Kianna Alert, which does not require someone to be in danger to be used. Like the Amber Alert, the Kianna Alert does require a missing persons report to be filed with police.

The Kane Count State’s Attorney’s Office said investigators had scanned the property with ground-penetrating radar, which revealed anomalies that detectives decided needed further investigation. No further details were immediately available.

A portion of Rever Road will remain closed until the excavation is complete.

Officials said updates would be shared as they become available.

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 Elyssa Kaufman, Dylan Olsen

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    CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — A daughter saved her mother’s life, and now they are working to support others impacted by liver disease.

Katie Doyen’s mother, Anne, is one of 100 million Americans who suffer from liver disease.

When Anne needed life-saving help in 2018, Katie answered the call without hesitation to donate part of her liver.

“Knowing she needed a transplant, I was immediately interested in doing whatever testing I could do to potentially be a donor,” Katie said.

After her mom got on the donor list and became sicker, Katie matched the day after Mother’s Day.

The mother-daughter is working with the American Liver Foundation, where Anne is now on the board of directors.

“I always wanted to pay it forward. I was so grateful after the transplant, I was so grateful to Katie,” Anne said.

The organization is hosting the Walk to End Liver Disease on Saturday, May 16th, in Lincoln Park. Anne and Katie have participated in the Chicago walk since 2018.

She calls the organization a “beacon of hope.”

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 Jason Burger

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    EDMOND, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Two days after a mass shooting at Arcadia Lake in Edmond, an 18-year-old victim died from her injuries.

The Edmond Police Department confirmed an 18-year-old woman, who was previously in critical condition, died after she was injured in a shooting Sunday night. Police did not release the woman’s name at her family’s request.

“The 18-year-old female victim that has been in critical condition passed away just before 6 PM this evening. Out of respect for her family wishes, we are not releasing her name at this time,” the Edmond Police Department said in a news release.

However, the family of Avianna Smith-Gray, an 18-year-old woman who was in critical condition after she was shot in the head, spoke to KOCO 5 Tuesday afternoon before police announced that the only victim in critical condition had died.

“Our baby is just 18. She turned 18 in December. She’s still in high school. She just got, you know, done doing her senior homework to finish up for the trimester, the school she goes to, and she’s, like, looking forward to graduation,” ShaRhonda Smith, the 18-year-old’s aunt, told KOCO. “They stole her whole life. That’s not fair. They don’t have the right to do what they did to her or anybody else that was there and innocently got hit.”

That information came hours after the Edmond Police Department held a news conference Tuesday, where they described how an argument broke out between multiple people at a Scissortail Campground pavilion.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Smith-Gray’s family.

Police said some of the victims had nothing to do with the fight that started the violence.

“Those rounds struck multiple people, including individuals who were not involved in that altercation and were simply there attending the event,” Sgt. James Hamm with Edmond police said.

Police also confirmed 23 people had what they called “firearm-related injuries,” and they explained that means some were grazed, some were hit by shrapnel and others took direct gunshot wounds.

Two days after the shooting, police said they did not have a suspect in custody. Police did not provide further information on a possible suspect or suspects due to the investigation.

Officers did say there was no threat to the public.

Hamm offered an explanation.

“There’s nothing we’re going to release on the suspect because of the integrity of the investigation. Typically, when we do release suspect information, that’s for two reasons. Number one, if there’s pertinent information for public safety, or if we need public assistance, and currently neither one of those things apply in this case,” Hamm said.

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 Wakisha Bailey

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    DOVER, Delaware (KYW) — At 108 years old, Susan Young Browne still works out three times a week, drives herself around town and starts every morning with an exercise routine she’s followed for decades.

“You are the spotlight,” classmates cheered as Browne walked into a group workout class at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Delaware, a place she’s called home since 1973. Browne is one of the center’s first members.

“I’m over a hundred,” Browne said with a smile. “A hundred and eight.” Inside the senior community center, Browne is likely the oldest person in the room, but she has no plans of slowing down. She recently renewed her driver’s license through 2033 and says staying active has always been part of her lifestyle.

“When I get up in the morning, I have an exercise routine that I’ve been doing for the last 20 years,” she said.

Born in 1918 in Houston, Delaware, Browne grew up during segregation and helped her family on a farm without running water or electricity. She later attended Delaware State College for Colored Students, today known as Delaware State University. Browne graduated in 1945 before spending 30 years teaching children across Delaware, including in a one-room schoolhouse. “When I retired and I walked around that classroom for 30 years, I am not going to sit down,” Browne said.

Browne is also known for her sharp sense of humor.

“I guess I’m not great material for men,” she said while laughing. “That was enough. I’m not taking care of another man.”

She’s a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother whose family still gathers for her famous 7UP pound cake — reserved only for special occasions.

From baking in the kitchen to receiving standing ovations at her 108th birthday celebration that was attended by more than 130 people, including Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, Browne continues to make an impression everywhere she goes. “I grow old gracefully,” she said.

And perhaps the most fitting birthday gift for someone who still drives herself at 108 years old?

Her very own reserved parking spot for drivers over 100.

“OK, see you later,” Browne said before pulling away behind the wheel once again.

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 Lisa Rozner, Christina Fan

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Could one of New York City’s most iconic parks soon be surrounded by gates?

At a Wednesday night meeting of the local Community Board’s Parks Committee, tensions ran high over whether or not to install locked gates at Washington Square Park.

The historic Washington Square Arch welcomes visitors from near and far to the park, but when the clock strikes midnight, the police and Parks Department put up French barricades, cross-chained together, until 6 a.m.

Some residents, however, said the barricades aren’t aesthetically pleasing.

“Now it’s time to replace the unattractive police barricades with appropriate gates that really represent the history of that park,” landscape architect George Vellonakis said. Others said the barricades aren’t effective at keeping people out. One resident shared a photo of a person sleeping overnight on a mattress in the park.

“They’ve shut it down at night before, and nothing really changes. It’s a park. It should be open to the public,” said resident Madeline Friend. “It’s a gathering place. I don’t see any reason to shut this down.”

Opponents, however, argued gates aren’t the answer to that issue, and some longtime residents said they hoped the park would be open 24/7.

“I think that the barricades have to go. I think they’re really, really ugly,” one person said. “They’re really hard for the Parks Department and the police to handle, and they don’t work.”

“Particularly Millennials and Gen Z will have these changes for the rest of their lives,” another person said. “I enjoy traveling other similar parks in Europe where you can walk at all hours of the night.”

Back in 2005, the Parks Department considered installing gates but canceled the plan after fierce opposition from the community. A Community Board member said the idea to install gates resurfaced during COVID when overnight gatherings in the park got out of hand.

“We are not anti-gate. We do believe that they should find more effective ways to support the NYPD,” Washington Square Association President Erica Sumner said. The committee voted on a resolution to formally ask the Parks Department for its recommendations.

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 Alexa Herrera

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Round-trip NJ Transit tickets for World Cup matches just got cheaper.

The tickets were going to cost fans $150 but will now be $105, NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri said Thursday.

The controversial $150 pricing plan caused outrage from local leaders, as the same 18-mile trip typically costs $12.90. Transportation officials had also previously announced 40,000 rail passes will be available per match.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans to the eight matches at MetLife Stadium.

“We know that this event will deliver real economic benefits for our communities and businesses. At the same time, hosting cannot come at the expense of New Jersey commuters and taxpayers,” Sherrill previously said.

The governor directed NJ Transit to provide discounts for riders who will be impacted by FIFA World Cup games on June 22 and June 30. She also said PATH will cross-honor tickets and provide additional service during those times.

A shuttle bus to and from FIFA games is available for $80.

Aside from the expensive train tickets, fans are encouraged not to drive to the game because there’s no parking. Only shuttle and bus companies sanctioned by NJ Transit and the host committee will be able to drop ticket holders off.

Transportation and FIFA officials warned fans against taking unsanctioned rides to the games.

“The idea that you are going to get a private bus, that is completely unsanctioned, that will pick you up in some random location and drop you off somewhere near the stadium, where there’s some of the highest security barriers, seems a bit irresponsible to me,” Kolluri previously said. “If you’re already willing to spend thousands of dollars to come to the game, use the systems that we have to get to the place and enjoy yourself.”

He also stressed fans should not walk to the matches because it is dangerous and illegal.

Penn Station will also partially close for four hours before each match, sources previously told CBS News New York.

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 Ivan Taylor

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    SOUTH FLORIDA (WFOR) — South Florida man from Cuba who was recently released from the immigration detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz is now being told to self-deport in a case that an immigration attorney said could become more common in the months ahead.

For Maikel Rojas and his family – the clock is already ticking.

Rojas, a 45-year-old immigrant from Cuba living in South Florida, said federal immigration authorities recently handed him documents ordering him to prepare to leave the United States no later than August 4, 2026.

His wife, Roxi Torres, fears immigration agents could return to detain him at any moment.

“In case the officers come here and my husband goes to immigration or something happens,” Torres said through tears.

Rojas showed CBS News Miami documents titled “Plan of Action for Removal,” which instruct him to obtain a passport and purchase a one-way airline ticket.

“I should leave no later than August 4 of 2026,” Rojas said in Spanish.

The situation has left him confused. Just last month, he says, immigration officials at the Miramar Immigration Center instructed him to report back in May of next year.

Now, he has been told to prepare for deportation.

Rojas does not currently have a passport. Because he was born in Cuba, he would need a Cuban passport to travel there.

Immigration attorney Willie Allen, who is not representing Rojas but has practiced immigration law in South Florida for more than four decades, says the case reflects the limits facing immigrants with serious criminal convictions.

“In truth, his opportunity to live here has run out,” Allen said.

Allen explained that under federal immigration law, immigrants convicted of certain crimes after 1996 – particularly offenses carrying sentences longer than one year – can be permanently barred from remaining in the United States.

“Anybody who committed a crime after 1996, and that crime had more than a one-year sentence is barred from living in the United States,” Allen said.

Rojas arrived from Cuba in 2004. The following year, he was arrested and later convicted as an accessory to murder. He served 13 years in prison.

After his release, Rojas was required to check in annually with immigration authorities. That changed last October when he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and sent to Alligator Alcatraz, where he remained for nearly five months.

In March, ICE released him with an ankle monitor. More recently, the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) – an alternative to detention program that works with ICE – provided him with the documents instructing him to self-deport.

Torres says the possibility of losing her husband again is devastating for the family, which includes a 15-month-old child.

“It’s a very bad experience because when you have a child and you have a life in the United States,” she said before breaking down in tears. “Everybody has an opportunity to change.”

Rojas says he was previously told he would likely be deported to Cuba, though Cuban authorities might not accept him.

“I was told I was going to be deported to Cuba but that government may not accept me,” Rojas said.

According to ICE, as of late March 2026, the Trump administration had returned 1,901 Cuban immigrants to Cuba since January 2025, including individuals with criminal records.

Allen says immigrants who receive removal instructions while wearing ankle monitors should take the situation seriously.

“My advice would be, the chances you stay here for a long time, short time are limited,” Allen said. “Take this opportunity to find a country you can immigrate to, see where you can make your best life and do it.”

The attorney warned that immigrants who ignore removal documents risk being detained again by ICE – and this time, authorities could determine where they are sent.

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 Alyssa Dzikowski

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    AVE MARIA, Florida (WFOR) — A Florida homeowner had quite a scare thinking her house was being robbed only to find that alligators violently fighting with each other.

The incident took place at a home in Ave Maria near Naples in Collier County.

The homeowner, Kayla Burress, said she looked outside and saw the two animals slamming into her screen enclosure, tearing through it and leaving behind twisted metal and shredded mesh.

Wildlife experts said this kind of behavior isn’t completely unheard of, especially during mating season which is happening right now.

“It was scary, and I just warned everybody else in the neighborhood, like, watch your kids. Watch the dogs,” Burress said. “Because it was, it was fast and they were powerful.”

Experts advise everyone to stay a safe distance away from waterways.

“There’s gators that are showing up in places they wouldn’t normally for a couple of reasons,” Naturalist and Environmentalist Educator Ranger Rob Howell. said. “One, big males are chasing out younger males in competition. Younger males are looking for new habitats. Males are looking for new habitats and territories and sometimes the females are caught in the crosshair. They get scared off and go to new areas.”

May marks the beginning of alligator mating season in Florida, and that means that the reptiles are way more active and are also more likely to wander into residential areas, wildlife officials say.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), courtship behaviors in alligators start in early April, and mating occurs in May or June.

During that time, wildlife officials say male alligators will become more and more territorial, and may displace smaller ones.

That then could lead to more alligator sightings in areas that aren’t common, like swimming pools.

If you encounter an alligator that poses a threat to people, pets, or property, contact the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1-866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286).

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.