Woman creates free tool, new AI-powered grant-writing app

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Rachel Ripp

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A Kansas City woman with an extensive grant-writing background just created a new AI-powered app to help nonprofits.

Barbara Wright created an app called Grant Builder Pro Max.

“I wrote raps, rhymes, songs, plays, never knowing — and stories — never knowing that that would end up being a part of my destiny and something that I would do,” said Dr. Wright, president of Certified Dream Builder Inc.

She has experience writing grants for the Housing Authority and Kansas City Public Schools. She also taught at JCCC and UMKC for years.

“I started to develop some systems that expedited the grant process using PDFs and using Excel and using some of the technology that was already existing at the time. I didn’t even realize that I was developing a system that goes out and scrapes search engines and pulls the information in. I didn’t realize I was developing an AI myself, for the grant writing,” Wright said.

This tool, which makes the grant writing process easier, is available on the App Store for iPhones and the Google Play Store for Androids.

Important features within the app are completely free, including the questionnaire and readiness profile.

Depending on answers submitted in the questionnaire, the app will generate suggestions and advice on how a nonprofit can improve its readiness.

Wright and her team launched the first version of the app about two years ago, but they went back to the drawing board several months ago to build a new version with AI. The AI version has only been available for about two months.

“I want as many people as possible to have the things that they need,” Wright said. “Take your dreams and your ideas and turn them into reality. I say my slogan is, ‘I help manifest millions for missions who are providing miracles to many.'”

She hosts a free virtual class in conjunction with the app, covering topics of grant writing for child care, veterans programs, homelessness and housing.

In it, she asks the important questions:

Have you thought about how to sustain when the money is gone? Have you developed your goals and objectives? Have you considered how you want this to be successful and who you’re going to serve?

Wright is currently helping entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders from Kansas, Colorado and Florida.

“I can take my software and empower families in the Florida area and do what I need to do to serve them in a quicker motion,” said Evelyn Deterville, executive director of Extra Mile Club Str8 Up.

Some of these people taking her class tell KMBC the app has allowed them to be more responsive to vision and mission, converting solutions into income.

“I’m really appreciative of it, and as I said, Dr. Barbara is touching and serving as a catalyst for social entrepreneurs all over the country, and her app has given us a powerful tool to make that happen,” said Daniel Haupt, director of Destiny Community Development Center.

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.

Film preserves story of blind hero who led others to safety during OKC bombing

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Meghan Mosley

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Oklahoma will soon commemorate the anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, but out of that darkness comes a story of light and heroism.

Filmmaker Princella Smith is working to ensure the stories of survival from April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building are not forgotten.

“I wanted to keep telling the story, and so I found several stories of heroes, amazing stories of survival, and I wanted to tell it,” Smith said.

Smith is the writer and director of the NAACP-nominated short film “Walk in the Light,” which tells the story of Raymond Washburn, a blind man who rescued five people during the bombing.

The film focuses on Washburn’s actions on April 19, 1995, when he worked on the fourth-floor snack bar of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. After the blast, Washburn used his sense of direction to guide people through the rubble to safety.

Many people may remember Washburn for his work in the building, but his heroic actions during the bombing are the focus of Smith’s film. Washburn died in 2022, but his story continues to inspire.

As the anniversary of the bombing approaches, Smith announced she is working on a new film to ensure other victims and survivors’ stories are preserved.

“America needs to continue to remember this story. It’s kind of sad to me, a lot of young people don’t know about it. They weren’t taught it in school, and it really should be integrated in textbooks,” Smith said.

Smith said the reception of “Walk in the Light” in Oklahoma City motivated her to create more films.

“One of the biggest compliments I got was when I did a screen in OKC. A third-grade teacher said, ‘Thank you for editing this and producing this the way you did, because I tried to find ways to teach my students about the bombing each year, and I struggle because it’s so heavy,’” Smith said.

“Walk in the Light” is free to watch this month, and Smith hopes it will help people remember the importance of this story and the resilience shown during one of Oklahoma’s darkest days.

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Dozens gather for vigil in honor of girl, 10, fatally struck by car in Massachusetts

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Ted Wayman, Danae Bucci, Imani Clement

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    WEBSTER, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A vigil was held Monday for a 10-year-old girl who died after she was struck by a vehicle in Webster, Massachusetts.

Marleigh Rose Guevara was Saturday hit while she was playing outside on School Street near her home.

A passerby with their own automatic external defibrillator initiated CPR before first responders arrived and took her to UMass Memorial Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

According to both the Webster and Dudley police departments, the driver in the crash was arrested on April 3 for drug possession and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

The driver was stopped in the middle of Center Road in Dudley just after 9:30 p.m. and appeared to be asleep behind the wheel, police said.

Inside the car, police found a green container containing a substance believed to be crack cocaine and two other baggies believed to be either heroin, fentanyl or crack cocaine. The driver was arrested and released on personal recognizance.

Carmen Borerro said she heard the impact of the School Street crash and stayed with Marleigh until police arrived.

“The person stopped. The person who hit her stopped,” Borerro said in Spanish. “They were talking to her until they eventually let her go.”

In a letter from Webster Public Schools, the superintendent said Marleigh was a fourth grader at Park Avenue Elementary School.

“When a community tragically loses a child, it loses a piece of its soul. Our hearts go out to Marleigh’s family and friends as they endure this terrible loss,” the police department said in a statement.

Marleigh’s mother wrote on a GoFundMe that she is “shattered in a way I didn’t know possible.”

“Marleigh was everything. She had the kind of light that you don’t come across often, the kind that made people feel safe, happy, and loved just by being near her,” her mother wrote. “Her laugh was contagious, her heart was pure, and her presence made this world a better place. To know her was to truly love her.”

Neighbors said drivers frequently speed down School Street.

“Notorious. They need to sit on this road and catch people. I don’t know, put speed bumps on the road,” neighbor Jason D’Andrea said.

The driver has not been charged in Marleigh’s death.

The crash is being investigated by the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council Accident Reconstruction Unit, along with the Webster Police Department and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.

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Former High Museum executive accused of stealing more than $600K, federal officials say

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Grace King, John Dodge

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WXIA) — A former top executive at the High Museum of Art is facing a federal charge after prosecutors say he stole more than $600,000 from the Atlanta museum by altering invoices and approving payments for personal purchases.

Federal prosecutors said Brady Lum, the museum’s former chief operating officer, was arraigned Friday on a charge of theft involving programs that receive federal funds. Lum entered a not guilty plea, but his attorney, Don Samuel, indicated to the judge they’re “ultimately” moving towards a guilty plea.

Lum waived his right to an indictment. The judge set him on an unsecured $10,000 bond and restricted his travel to the state of Georgia, though he’s allowed to attend his daughter’s graduation in Texas on May 7.

According to federal prosecutors, Lum allegedly used his position at the museum to funnel money for personal purchases over several years.

“While entrusted to run the High Museum, Lum allegedly used the museum’s money as his personal slush fund and thereby betrayed one of Atlanta’s civic crown jewels,” U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in a statement.

Authorities said Lum served as the High Museum’s chief operating officer from Jan. 2, 2019, until he resigned Dec. 9, 2025. In that role, prosecutors said he oversaw the museum’s operations and finances. According to IRS filings, Lum earned $359,000 in salary and related compensation in 2023.

Investigators say Lum repeatedly used museum funds to buy personal items and services, including luxury guitars, music equipment, music lessons and woodworking tools.

Officials said he carried out the alleged scheme by submitting altered invoices, approving his own expenses and spreading transactions across multiple cost centers to avoid suspicion.

Court documents describe one example from Nov. 29, 2024.

Prosecutors say Lum submitted a reimbursement request showing a purchase of equipment worth $9,147.87 that appeared to be for museum use. Investigators later found the original invoice was for a guitar and accessories.

Over time, authorities allege Lum stole more than $600,000 from the museum.

“We expect officials of one of our community’s historic institutions to serve as stewards — not to loot it,” said Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Field Office.

Lum, 59, of Atlanta, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher C. Bly for arraignment.

The High Museum is one of Atlanta’s best-known cultural institutions, with a collection of more than 20,000 works of art and a rotating schedule of exhibitions and community programs.

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Clerk says girl mouthed ‘help’ to him after kidnapping

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Brett Kast

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    HAMTRAMCK, Michigan (WXYZ) — A 16-year-old girl is safe after being abducted at gunpoint while walking to her school bus stop in Hamtramck, thanks to the quick actions of a Detroit gas station clerk, fellow students and police.

The kidnapping happened just after 7 a.m. near Edwin and Brombach in Hamtramck streets. The girl, a student at Frontier International Academy, was waiting for her school bus. Hamtramck Police Department Chief Hussein Farhat said the two did not know each other.

“This is a random incident. This suspect could have driven anywhere, saw the opportunity and took advantage of it,” Farhat said.

Roughly 30 minutes later, around 7:30 a.m., the suspect brought the girl into a Sunoco gas station at the corner of Nevada Street and Conant in Detroit. The suspect asked for cigarettes and told the girl to pay for them.

“When he ask her to pay for the cigarettes, I stop and go there’s something wrong. And she mouthed talked to me, like with no sound, ‘help,'” store clerk Abdulrahman Abohatem said.

Abohatem came out from behind the protective glass, confronted the man and ushered the girl to safety.

“I go out, I kick him out, I ask the girl go behind me,” Abohatem said.

According to the school board president, Fellow students who witnessed the kidnapping helped police track the girl’s phone location. As Abohatem was escorting the man out of the store, police pulled into the parking lot.

“I see the police outside. I point to him. I go that’s the guy,” Abohatem said.

The suspect was quickly taken into custody. City of Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alharbi noted the suspect’s criminal background.

“It’s a criminal who had a history of rape charges, and we will make sure he gets what he deserves,” Alharbi said.

The girl’s family said she is safe at home processing the incident and is thankful the community stepped up. More details about the suspect are expected to be released once he is arraigned in the near future.

“I feel good when you save somebody. Sixteen years old — she is child,” Abohatem said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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‘It was like a war zone’: Ottawa couple recalls sheltering from Monday night tornado

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Ryan Gamboa

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    OTTAWA, Kansas (KSHB) — Monday night’s storms brought tornadoes that damaged numerous rural communities in outer-lying Kansas City metropolitan area communities.

The first reported damage in the Kansas City viewing area was in Ottawa, Kansas just after 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

“All the sudden the door just flew open,” Eileen Sprickler recalled. “We were going to leave and we thought we had time and we looked out and it was like no. The sky just changed really suddenly.”

Eileen and her husband Barry were at a community meeting that was being hosted in Hope House, a local non-profit food bank.

The Spickler’s shared that it was only a matter of minutes from when they received the Tornado warning, that someone yelled at them to get inside and take cover.

Moments later, a tornado touched down outside the building.

“When I walked in that door today, I didn’t know that tornado was going to be coming right to where we were,” Barry Spickler said. “It was kind of unsettling to walk out and see there’s a 30-foot-tall tree on the side of the building that was now six feet tall with a lot of rubble next to it.”

Barry shared some pictures of the aftermath with KSHB 41 News Reporter Ryan Gamboa that show shattered windows in the Hope House building, facades torn off neighboring buildings, and even Barry’s car seen with damage to its side paneling and windows.

“What struck me was the amazing power of this very local event. The tornado didn’t affect everyone in town as far as property damage, but it chose specific places to hit,” he said. “I mean it looked like a war zone.”

No injuries were reported in the City of Ottawa, according to Police Chief Adam Weingartner.

Franklin County Undersheriff Kiel Lasswell told Gamboa that a few people suffered minor injuries in an isolated event during the storm out in the county.

“We have done a lot of planning and testing for responding to exercises just like this, so now we begin the plan to really help those that need us,” Weingartner said. “We’ll start to triage the businesses and making sure those are safe and secure. And then seeing what the next step of our operational periods are going to be to provide the support to the community that they really need.”

While the Spickler’s home remains in tact with no damage — they spent the rest of the evening waiting for their power to flip back on.

For Eileen, she realized how much under prepared her home was for an event like this. She plans to add more batteries and electronic charging tools to her home in case she’s put in a position like this again.

For now, they’re looking to tomorrow and the community rebuild effort that will begin.

“It’s gonna take everybody to rebuild,” she said. “There’s a sense of community ere that you don’t find in larger cities. I would venture to say up in Kansas City you might not, the way you do here. Community building is really, really important, that’s how you survive disasters.”

As for what’s next for them, they’ll assess the damage to Barry’s car in the morning and navigate the financial impacts that will have on their family.

They’re just grateful to see another day.

“We’re sitting at home with battery powered lights all over the place, but we’re safe and the lights will come back on, power will be dealt with,” Barry Spickler said. “We could’ve stayed and helped with the clean-up if we could, but that’s a tomorrow thing.”

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.

Woman accused of stealing SNAP benefits from more than 200 people, prosecutors say

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Abby Dodge

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A Broward County woman is accused of stealing more than $120,000 in SNAP benefits from over 200 victims, many of whom say they did not realize their accounts had been drained until they tried to pay for groceries.

Prosecutors say 43-year-old Tamica Brown used stolen EBT card numbers over an eight-month period, targeting some of South Florida’s most vulnerable residents. Investigators allege Brown worked with at least two men, who remain at large, to obtain hundreds of SNAP account numbers.

One of the alleged victims, 95-year-old Angela Liriano, said she was left without money for food after her benefits disappeared.

“I was really in need,” Liriano said. “They really hurt me.”

Liriano said she discovered her benefits were gone when she was shopping at her local grocery store, and her EBT card was declined. She said the process to restore her account was long and stressful, requiring paperwork and phone calls. It took about a month before she could buy groceries again.

Investigators say Brown allegedly used the stolen benefits to purchase large quantities of items such as Gatorade and energy drinks, which were then resold to corner stores for cash.

Brown appeared in bond court Monday, facing charges including criminal use of personal identification information and trafficking more than 50 counterfeit credit cards.

During the hearing, a prosecutor described the case as particularly severe.

“She didn’t just victimize these people,” the prosecutor said. “She picked some of the most vulnerable people. She is a high-level defraud involving SNAP cards.”

Liriano said seeing the suspect’s booking photo brought her some relief, even though she did not recognize Brown.

“I feel sorry because I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through,” she said. “It was very wrong.”

Brown’s bond was set at $300,000.

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.

Atlanta woman files lawsuit over raid by deputies, U.S. Marshals for suspect already in jail

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By La’Tasha Givens

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — An Atlanta woman is seeking justice after she says the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals executed a raid on her home searching for a suspect who was already behind bars. She and her attorneys are holding a press conference on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the federal building in southwest Atlanta.

Cathy George’s attorneys allege that back in October of 2023, at around 5 a.m., agents executed a raid of her home. She says when she opened the door, laser equipment was pointed at her … and officers forced her outside in the cold while she was in a state of undress.

Surveillance footage obtained from George’s legal team appears to show agents entering the building from multiple angles. The lawsuit filed by George’s attorneys lists several alleged violations of her rights, emphasizing a startling oversight: the fugitive officers were searching for had been in jail for four months at the time of the raid.

The complaint further notes that the U.S. Marshals had even issued a press release regarding that suspect’s arrest the day after he was originally captured.

George’s attorneys argue the search was planned, noting that officers obtained permission to access locked areas of the building and the parking lot. Despite this preparation, the legal team says authorities failed to verify the address.

George maintains she has no connection to the suspect in question and says he never had access to her condo.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2025, describes the event as a “terrifying experience” that left George traumatized. Her legal team is holding a press conference later this morning to discuss the lawsuit and their call for a jury trial.

CBS News Atlanta requested comments from the attorney representing the sheriff’s office and the U.S. Marshals. The inquiries were made after business hours. This story will be updated once a response is received.

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Championship ring stolen from display case in Massachusetts: “Significant piece of local sports heritage”

CNN Newsource on April 14, 2026

By Neal Riley

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    PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Police in Pittsfield, Massachusetts are asking the public for help to recover a stolen ring that’s “a significant piece of local sports heritage.”

The department says someone stole a 1997 Pittsfield Mets championship ring from a display case Saturday during a ceremony at Wahconah Park. The ballpark, which was home to a minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets until 2001, held a farewell event for the grandstand that is being demolished amid a renovation.

Pittsfield Parks & Recreation had advertised a “Berkshire Baseball Table” at the event featuring historic ballpark memorabilia. Police want to know if attendees “noticed any suspicious activity around the display cases.”

The stolen ring has a blue gem with a “P” in the middle. It commemorates the team as “NY-Penn League Champions” for 1997. According to The Berkshire Eagle, this was the city’s first minor league championship, won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

“If you see a ring matching this description on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or at a local pawn shop, report it immediately,” police said. “The more people who see this, the harder it becomes for the item to be sold or hidden.”

Police are asking anyone with information to send them a private message on Facebook, or call the department at 413-448-9700 Ext: 679.

The city has budgeted $17 million to demolish and renovate Wahconah Park, with a new grandstand capacity of 1,100 fans. They expect it to be ready for play in 2027.

Pittsfield is located 48 miles west of Springfield and just a few miles from the New York border.

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.

Championship ring stolen from display case in Massachusetts: “Significant piece of local sports heritage”

CNN on April 14, 2026


WBZ

By Neal Riley

Click here for updates on this story

    PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Police in Pittsfield, Massachusetts are asking the public for help to recover a stolen ring that’s “a significant piece of local sports heritage.”

The department says someone stole a 1997 Pittsfield Mets championship ring from a display case Saturday during a ceremony at Wahconah Park. The ballpark, which was home to a minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Mets until 2001, held a farewell event for the grandstand that is being demolished amid a renovation.

Pittsfield Parks & Recreation had advertised a “Berkshire Baseball Table” at the event featuring historic ballpark memorabilia. Police want to know if attendees “noticed any suspicious activity around the display cases.”

The stolen ring has a blue gem with a “P” in the middle. It commemorates the team as “NY-Penn League Champions” for 1997. According to The Berkshire Eagle, this was the city’s first minor league championship, won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

“If you see a ring matching this description on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or at a local pawn shop, report it immediately,” police said. “The more people who see this, the harder it becomes for the item to be sold or hidden.”

Police are asking anyone with information to send them a private message on Facebook, or call the department at 413-448-9700 Ext: 679.

The city has budgeted $17 million to demolish and renovate Wahconah Park, with a new grandstand capacity of 1,100 fans. They expect it to be ready for play in 2027.

Pittsfield is located 48 miles west of Springfield and just a few miles from the New York border.

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.