Category: CNN Regional

By Mike Toole

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    DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A librarian is accused of smuggling sheets of paper infused with synthetic marijuana in a drug ring at the Bristol County jail in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

She’s one of five people charged in what the sheriff called the “largest alleged employee drug bust” in the jail’s history.

The investigation began back in March after authorities discovered someone was smuggling synthetic marijuana, also known as K-2 or “spice,” into the jail.

According to the sheriff, 25-year-old inmate Joseph Housley of Rehoboth was selling thousands of dollars’ worth of the drugs to other inmates, and he had help from four people on the outside.

One of them, investigators said, was the jail’s librarian, 46-year-old Ginger Hook of New Bedford. They said she had smuggled the drugs several times in sheets of paper that were infused with synthetic marijuana. Authorities then put her under surveillance in June.

They allegedly caught her delivering 13 pages of drug-laced paper to Housley. It was in a folder disguised as “legal work,” according to Sheriff Paul Heroux.

“It was estimated to be worth approximately $65,000 when sold inside the jail,” Heroux said in a statement Monday announcing the charges.

Hook resigned a month later when she was confronted about the incident. She and Housley were indicted last month along with the three others, 31-year-old Brandin Barbosa-Mayo of New Bedford, 33-year-old Bestlee Vasquez of Somerset and 23-year-old Axel Hazard of Rhode Island.

No other information is available at this point in the investigation. Dartmouth, Massachusetts is about 57 miles south of Boston.

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By Olivia Tyler

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    MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCCI) — At Glenwood Place, an assisted living facility in Marshalltown, Shirley Sternola, a long-time educator, read a children’s book to local home-schooled kids 30 years after retiring, thanks to the facility’s Dare to Dream program.

Sternola’s caretaker, Angie Wilson with Iowa River Hospice, comes to Glenwood Place to do life reviews with her. There, Sternola shared that her passion is children’s literature. She once owned a bookstore while living in Colorado called Bo Peep Books, a play off her maiden name, Lamb.

So Wilson got an idea. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with Glenwood with so many different patients through the years, and we just got to thinking about how this would be a great opportunity for one of the wish-granting that they do,” she said.

Glenwood Place threw Sternola a surprise book club party. She got to sign and read a children’s book that an old friend dedicated to her. Her friend even called in via Zoom for the celebration.

Sternola’s family was also in attendance. Her brother, Ken Lamb, says Sternola is “a great human being, and she’s a hard worker, and she’s very exact about what she does.”

Sternola turns 91 next week, but this year her wish came true early. Wilson said, “She will talk about this every single visit moving forward, and the joy that you saw on her face will continue.”

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By Victor Jorges

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    DELRAY BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — A Delray Beach boxer refusing to let disability define him is celebrating a major victory and has a new belt to show for it.

Julian Gonzalez, who was born with one leg and missing a few fingers, has been training in the ring for two and a half years with dreams of becoming a professional boxer.

“All that work, the two and a half years, the weeks leading up to it,” Gonzalez said. “It was phenomenal. Phenomenal.”

WPTV reporter Victor Jorges first met Gonzalez in July when Gonzalez and his gym, The Phoenix Boxing Gym, were raising funds for a new prosthetic leg to help him move faster and train harder.

Last month, Gonzalez faced an able-bodied, more experienced, and heavier opponent — and won.

“Be fast,” is what Gonzalez had to do, he told Jorges. “In my hands, in my speed, in my thinking.”

“As soon as that bell rung and it was just me and him, all that completely washed away,” Gonzalez said. “The feeling of having my hand raised in that ring is like no other.”

Coaches at Phoenix Boxing Gym in Delray Beach say the moment was unforgettable.

“I was chasing him around trying to get his wraps off his hands; he didn’t want to know,” said Michael Hockton, owner of The Phoenix. “I think he sleeps with that belt. It was superb.”

For Gonzalez, this first victory in the ring proved what he’s known all along. He can compete on equal footing.

“I am able to compete level to level with people who are two-legged,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like, with how I move, I move better than most people with two legs. My footwork is pretty decent.”

Now, Gonzalez is looking ahead to 2026, filled with more fights — and more wins.

“It went well, it went well,” he said with a smile.

After WPTV’s first story on Julian aired, the community rallied to support Gonzalez’s $20,000 goal for a new prosthetic leg. So far, they’ve raised more than $2,000.

“Thanks again to Channel 5 and Victor for giving us some exposure,” Hockton said. “We actually raised over $2,000 for his new prosthetic.”

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By Jolie Sherman

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    CARLETON, Michigan (WXYZ) — A 15-year-old Carleton high school football player is recovering from a rare, life-threatening kidney injury after a tackle during a game last month, and it was the opposing team’s athletic trainer who likely saved his life.

The injury occurred when Brayden McClish, a running back for Airport High School’s JV football team, came down on the ball, and another player landed on top of him, causing internal bleeding during a game on October 23.

“I just remember I was hyped going into the game…and I remember I was running the ball over and over and over. I had so much adrenaline,” McClish said. “I just remember seeing him grab my jersey, seeing the ground, and me not getting back up.”

Landon Lalonde, Avondale High School’s athletic trainer, quickly recognized the severity of McClish’s condition and took immediate action.

“So he kind of had two people’s weight come down on top of the ball, and he was having pain in his abdomen and ribs on the left side,” Lalonde said.

Lalonde evaluated McClish and immediately identified signs of internal bleeding, rushing him to get medical attention.

“We got Brayden onto the cart, took him around to the visitor’s side, and told his mom, ‘He has to go to the hospital right now, it cannot wait,'” Lalonde said.

The quick response proved crucial. Medical professionals told McClish that arriving 20 minutes later could have been fatal.

According to his kidney doctor, the injury is extremely rare. Out of thousands of children across the county, doctors typically see only about five similar cases per year.

“It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever been through in my whole entire life. Thinking that your child could possibly not be here,” said Ashley McClish, Brayden’s mother.

Currently, one of McClish’s kidneys is functioning normally while the other is operating at 25% capacity. His parents say the community’s support has been overwhelming during this difficult time.

“We would be able to get through it without them. The phone calls, the texts, the messages, the all of it, the visits. They’ve just been so supportive. I mean, people that we aren’t even close to, reaching out to say, ‘If you need anything, we’re here.’ It’s just very touching,” said Jeff McClish, Brayden’s father.

Despite the severity of his injury, the young athlete remains determined to return to the sport he loves.

“Oh yes, I see myself playing again. Give me that year to recover, and I’ll be back on that field,” McClish said.

Football continues to provide comfort during his recovery.

“And I’ve been falling asleep with my football…It’s like my little teddy bear. It’s my little teddy bear, I just hold it,” McClish said.

After two weeks in the hospital, McClish is expected to return home this weekend. His parents say a full recovery could take up to a year, but they’re grateful he’s healing and heading home.

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

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By Holly Lehren

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    WILSON COUNTY, Tennessee (WTVF) — Vanderbilt University Medical Center has confirmed that one crew member was killed and two others were seriously injured after a LifeFlight helicopter crashed Saturday afternoon in Wilson County.

The helicopter, LifeFlight 1, went down in an unpopulated area near the 7100 block of Cairo Bend Road around 2 p.m. Officials said the aircraft had taken off from the Wilson County Emergency Operations Center at 1:33 p.m. and was not carrying a patient at the time.

In a statement, Vanderbilt Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer Dr. Jane Freedman said Flight Nurse/Paramedic Allan Williams did not survive. Critical Care Flight Paramedic Andrew “Andy” Sikes and the pilot, whose family requested privacy, were seriously injured and remain hospitalized.

“For 41 years, through more than 80,000 flights and 40,000 ground transports, the remarkable members of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight team have saved countless lives,” Dr. Freedman said. “Despite the inherent risk of this work, these dedicated individuals feel called to serve patients in their most vulnerable moments.”

Dr. Freedman asked the community to “join me in support of [Allan’s] family, as well as Andy, the pilot, and their families” as the organization grieves this loss.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.

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By Amanda Roberts

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    NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — Residents at a local townhouse community are being forced to pay hundreds of dollars in additional fees during the holiday season after their property management company allegedly mismanaged their homeowner association funds.

Carol Hancock moved into her Provincetown townhouse expecting to save money by downsizing and getting help with property upkeep. Instead, she and her neighbors are now facing a $900 special assessment that triples their monthly HOA dues.

“I thought it was a great idea, but at this point, I don’t think so,” Hancock said.

The financial burden stems from problems with Gasser Property Management, a company that had been managing the community’s finances. In August, critical insurance policies for Provincetown lapsed, leading to the discovery that Gasser Property Management wasn’t licensed for business and wasn’t paying to keep insurance policies current.

The HOA board fired Gasser and hired a new management company, Ghertner. In a letter to homeowners, the board revealed that money residents thought existed in Gasser accounts was actually missing.

“They said it was because the funds we had in HOA are no longer there,” Hancock said.

The special assessment requires homeowners to pay an additional $300 per month for three months, on top of their regular dues. For Hancock, who has lived in the community for five years and always paid her dues on time, the timing couldn’t be worse.

“I cannot afford to pay that and I have a new grandbaby. He’ll be here next month,” Hancock said.

Hancock questions why residents are being penalized for alleged mismanagement they had no control over.

“I don’t know why we’re the ones having to pay for this and I think it’s unfair,” she said. “Do you feel like you were stolen from? I do, I do, so unfair.”

The Provincetown HOA board did not respond to requests for comment. Ghertner also did not respond to calls or emails. Calls and texts to Gasser Property Management have gone unanswered.

In their letter to homeowners, the Provincetown board indicated they are working with an attorney to explore filing a lawsuit.

For Hancock, the situation has turned what was supposed to be a smart financial move into a source of stress and uncertainty.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all, it’s not fair at all,” she said.

Have you experienced issues with your HOA or property management company? I want to hear from you. Email me at Amanda.Roberts@NewsChannel5.com with your story, documents, or concerns. Your tip could help uncover problems affecting other homeowners in our community.

This story was reported on-air by Amanda Roberts and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVF’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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

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By Kara Burnett

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — At The Smoothie Garden in Federal Hill, customers are getting a latte to talk about.

“Let’s put the latte inside the pumpkin. The customers love it. They travel 45 minutes to an hour,” said Montana Logan, owner of The Smoothie Garden.

The seasonal favorite, called “Pumpkin Spice Everything Nice,” has become one of the shop’s most popular menu items.

Each drink is made by carving out a small pumpkin, filling it with ice and the shop’s signature pumpkin spice latte, then topping it off with whipped cream and even a mini pie.

“They say it tastes very refreshing,” Logan said. “It’s the best latte they’ve ever had.”

And it’s not just Baltimore getting in on the craze. Data from Nielsen shows Americans spend about half a billion dollars every year on pumpkin spice products.

Videos of creative spins on the drink, from customers bringing their own pumpkins to Starbucks to lines stretching for hours at The Barn in Long Island, have flooded TikTok this season.

Logan says she noticed no one in Baltimore was offering the trend, so she decided to bring it here.

“There wasn’t any place in Baltimore doing it,” she said. “So I thought, let’s do something nobody else is doing. That’s my goal, to be different and stand out.”

It’s not the first time The Smoothie Garden has gone viral. Over the summer, their watermelons and pineapples filled with Italian ice took over social media. Next up, Logan says, she’s offering something for the matcha lovers.

“Matcha in the pumpkins. Yes, matcha in the pumpkins,” she said.

Creative trends like these have helped keep business flowing through the colder months, when sales tend to slow down. Logan is also celebrating just over a year since opening the smoothie shop, though it wasn’t her original plan. Logan was searching for a space to open another daycare center.

“Surprisingly, I was looking for a childcare center and this fell into my lap,” she said. “I love making smoothies, so why not open up a smoothie shop for the community.”

Looks like that leap of faith turned out to be pretty fruitful.

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By Alex Barber

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    FRANKFORT, Kentucky (WLEX) — The frigid temperatures couldn’t keep mourners away from paying their respects to Kentucky’s first female governor.

“I don’t care how cold it is. You couldn’t keep me away,” Linda Bowen said.

People from across the state gathered to reflect on Martha Layne Collins’ political accomplishments and how she broke barriers for women in government.

“Martha Layne really paved the way for individuals such as us to be in government,” Kristen Wheatley said.

Collins served as governor from 1983 to 1987, becoming the first woman to hold the state’s highest office.

Those who knew her personally said Collins had a unique ability to see potential in others and bring out their best qualities.

“She looked at me and said I see something in you that I’m going to bring out. What she brought out was happiness. I used to be a mean, but not a bad guy. She brought out the kindness that she wanted to see,” Jesse Brownlee said.

Brownlee worked on Collins’ staff during her time in office.

Even younger generations have drawn inspiration from Collins’ legacy and hope to continue her work.

“Hopefully this will inspire young Kentuckians and young female Kentuckians to carry on her legacy,” Abigail Stanger said.

Those who knew Collins described her unwavering love for Kentucky and its people.

“Her kind soul and her love for the state and her family. She was strong. You can count on her,” Bowen said.

Collins’ impact continues to influence current political leaders who learned valuable lessons from her approach to public service.

“Don’t take things for granted. That’s the way she was,” Brownlee said.

Stella Pollard, who is running for Kentucky’s 20th District of the State Senate, said Collins’ influence extends beyond her time in office.

“She is still touching lives to this day,” Pollard said.

For those who knew her best, Collins will be remembered for the love she showed others.

“I just loved her,” Bowen said.

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By Chierstin Roth

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    THORNTON, Colorado (KCNC) — A Colorado man returned home from a weekend trip to find that more than 20 bullets had been shot at his townhouse.

Thornton resident Blake Jackson was staying the weekend with family when he received a call that his home had been sprayed with bullets.

“I was just super fortunate that I wasn’t home at the time,” said Blake Jackson. “I live here, I have a dog that lives here. I’m glad we weren’t here when the gunshots were going off.”

Thornton police say a 19-year-old male was quickly taken into custody, but Jackson says he has no idea why anyone would target his home and why only his unit was hit.

“I don’t have any enemies. Like, no one would be shooting at my apartment. So, it was kind of a shock,” he said.

The nearly two dozen bullets entered Jackson’s garage just below his bedroom.

When police came to the house, they had to bust down the front door to make sure nobody was inside. But now, there’s no way to properly secure the front door, another reason he doesn’t feel safe.

“I reached out to my management company. I’ve called them about three or four times today and just let them know, like, hey, the police broke down my door. And I have not received anything from them, other than just super dismissive like, we’ll deal with this when we get to it,” he explained.

Jackson says he’ll be sleeping somewhere else in the meantime, but questions whether it’s safe to return at all. He showed CBS Colorado crews how one bullet traveled through the back of the garage, past his front door, and into a railing. He also pointed out that his cooler in the garage was riddled with bullets, an eerie sight knowing that it could have been him or his dog.

While he waits for answers, Jackson is just happy nobody was hurt.

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