Spartanburg tattoo shop honors artist killed in shooting

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By James Wagher

Click here for updates on this story

    SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WYFF) — The tattoo designs may be permanent, but so is the impact Troy Conner left on the people around him.

On Saturday and Sunday, friends, family and members of the community gathered at Ill Ink Tattoo Shop in Spartanburg to honor Conner, a 44-year-old tattoo artist who died after being shot following a domestic violence dispute on Sept. 10.

Conner was taken to the hospital after the shooting, where he later died, according to officials.

At Ill Ink, those who knew Conner gathered to remember him by doing what he loved most: tattooing.

“He was just someone that just came straight to you. And if you needed help, he’d be there to help you instantly,” said Joshua Greene, manager of Ill Ink Tattoo Shop. “Didn’t expect anything out of return from you. It was just straightforward. It was just a genuine person.”

The gathering featured a variety of Conner’s designs as people came together to keep his artistic legacy alive.

For those at Ill Ink, the weekend was about more than tattoos. It was about remembering a friend, co-worker and artist who had touched countless lives.

Greene said Conner understood the hard work it took to build a life and a career.

“You have to claw your way out of it and just to get to the top. And that’s where we were together,” Greene said. “And that’s such a blessing, looking around, seeing all these people that he has touched.”

People of all ages came to pay their respects and reflect on Conner’s legacy.

Greene also pointed to a tattoo Conner had given him — an angel with the words “be still.”

“He was an angel. There was angels, you know, watching over us all that night.”

For the people who knew Troy Conner, the love and memories he leaves behind are permanent — just like the ink.

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.

‘A volley of shots going off’: Witness recounts mass shooting at Greensboro club

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Jay Motiwala

Click here for updates on this story

    GREENSBORO, N.C. (WXII) — A mass shooting outside “The O” Bar on West Market Street in Greensboro early Sunday morning left one person dead and four others injured, prompting bystanders and a former EMT to assist the wounded.

The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. at the Price Place Center, and police are actively investigating the scene.

“Detectives learned that there was a disturbance that occurred in front of the establishment that led to the multiple shots being fired,” Greensboro Police Chief Kamran Afzal said.

Evelyn Dodson, a former EMT, was at the bar with her husband when the gunfire erupted.

“I was shooting pool with my husband, and we heard a volley of shots going off, I don’t know probably seven or eight,” Dodson said. “We hid behind a pool table and a few seconds later there was a second volley of shots, again probably seven or eight.”

Dodson stepped in to help the wounded.

“I checked in on them, one by one, starting with the man inside,” she said. “I went outside, and administered care to two injured gentlemen outside.”

Dodson credited the bravery of bystanders for saving lives during the chaos.

“Bystanders that were present much much closer to the actual gunfire who were administering care while under active and immediate gunfire,” she said.

She also noted the collective effort to help those in need.

“We luckily escaped that bystander effect where everybody thinks someone else will do something,” Dodson said.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Greensboro Police Department or Crime Stoppers.

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.

‘I was so scared’: Girl recalls seeing 11-year-old injured in Watterson Park shooting

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Joyce Ogirri

Click here for updates on this story

    WATTERSON PARK, Ky. (WLKY) — People living in the Watterson Park neighborhood are shaken after an 11-year-old boy was shot Saturday night.

The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on Bluegrass Park Drive, off Newburg Road.

Police say the boy was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the shooting.

A 14-year-old is charged with assault and possession of a handgun by a minor.

A 17-year-old is charged with wanton endangerment, possession of a handgun by a minor and tampering with physical evidence.

Yeilin Almendares, a young friend of the 11-year-old, says she was planning to go outside and play with him.

Instead, she saw him wounded on the ground.

“I see the little boy like in the floor. It was blood in his head, and I was so scared,” Almendares said.

Almendares says the shooting has left her afraid to go outside.

“Every time I go to sleep, I get up like, a lot of times because I was so scared about that boy,” she said. “I was like thinking, I’m never going outside every time, only when my mom said.”

Robert Allen has lived in the Watterson Park neighborhood for 40 years.

He says he has never experienced anything like this in the area.

“What bothered me the most was the boy — 11 years old,” Allen said.

Allen says he believes more should have been done to keep a gun out of a child’s hands.

“Any person that owns a gun shouldn’t have it out to where a kid get a hand on it,” Allen said.

Despite the shooting, Allen says he believes the neighborhood and park will be okay.

“I’m going to be all right. The park will be all right. It’s just I hated to hear that,” he said.

Because of the severity of the boy’s injuries, Louisville Metro Police Department’s Homicide Unit is leading the investigation.

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.

From Google Maps to Houston Classrooms: Dr. Travis McPhail Headlines The Imani School’s Convocation 2026

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    September 21, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — The Imani School is preparing to turn its 2026 Convocation into something bigger than a ceremonial start to the school year. On Tuesday, September 22, students, parents, educators and community supporters will gather at The Community Collective for a morning centered on faith, excellence, technology and possibility — with Google engineering leader Dr. Travis McPhail delivering the keynote message.

McPhail serves as Engineering Director for Google Maps & Immersive Experiences, helping guide the technical vision behind mapping and geospatial tools used around the world. For young scholars who have grown up tapping a phone for directions, exploring neighborhoods digitally or watching technology blur the line between the physical and virtual worlds, his work makes an important point: the future is not some distant destination. It is already in their hands.

Even more powerful is the example standing behind the technology. McPhail is a Rice University alumnus whose academic journey includes undergraduate degrees in computer science and electrical engineering, a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in computer science. Rice honored him with a 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing his leadership in the geospatial field and his efforts to expand opportunity and inclusion in technology.

His résumé also connects innovation with cultural storytelling. Rice has highlighted McPhail’s role in spearheading a 3D project with Google designers and engineers for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture — a reminder that cutting-edge technology can preserve history, deepen understanding and help communities see themselves more vividly in the digital age.

That makes his appearance especially fitting at The Imani School, an institution with deep Houston roots. Founded in 1988 with just 25 young children, Imani has spent nearly four decades building an educational culture around faith, self-confidence and academic achievement. Its 2026 Convocation continues that tradition while asking a distinctly modern question: How do families prepare children not merely to consume tomorrow’s technology, but to create, lead and shape it?

photo The Imani School – School Building Image

Parents are being encouraged to attend alongside their children — and that may be one of the day’s most meaningful features. Artificial intelligence, immersive technology, advanced mapping and careers that did not exist a generation ago are rapidly changing the landscape students will inherit. Convocation offers families a chance to hear directly from a leader working inside that transformation.

The morning will also celebrate Imani’s distinctive community spirit. Rev. Alexander Johnson is scheduled to deliver the invocation, Pastor Derrick Smith the benediction, and Texas Southern University’s celebrated Ocean of Soul Marching Band will continue its beloved Convocation tradition with the kind of energy that can make even a 9 a.m. program feel like halftime at homecoming. Houston-based Three Keys Coffee is also supporting the event as a sponsor.

Convocation 2026 begins at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, at The Community Collective, 12401 S. Post Oak Road, Houston, TX 77045.

For The Imani School, the message is clear: excellence has history, innovation has a future, and Houston’s children deserve a seat at both tables.

LEARN MORE: The Imani School — Convocation 2026

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.

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
3465287733

Family wants answers after 7-year-old student dies while on bus

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Danielle Dindak

Click here for updates on this story

    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — A Cincinnati family is demanding answers after their seven-year-old daughter died while on a school bus on her way home.

The girl, 7-year-old Ngone Talla, attended Roselawn Condon School, according to Cincinnati Public Schools. Her family says she was discovered unresponsive in her wheelchair when the bus arrived at their home.

The coroner reported that there were no traumatic injuries or signs of harm related to her death.

“She became unresponsive in her wheelchair on the bus, but she has extensive medical history including cerebral palsy. There was nothing traumatic and no injuries were related to the death,” the coroner’s office said in a statement.

WLWT confirmed that the bus involved was operated by First Student, which released a statement saying, “All of us at First Student are deeply saddened by the death of a student on one of our buses. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family, classmates, school community and all those impacted as they navigate this difficult time.”

There were two adults on the bus at the time – the driver and a bus monitor. The monitor worked for First Student, not CPS.

WLWT has reached out to First Student, asking when the driver and monitor realized there was a problem and if it was before they arrived at the girl’s home.

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.

FBI says 35 potential new victims step forward in ‘fake 49er’ case

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Esteban Reynoso

Click here for updates on this story

    CALIFORNIA (KCRA) — Daejon Love, a California native, has been arrested on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly scamming over a dozen women out of more than $1 million by pretending to be a San Francisco 49er.

“The number of victims can change, the financial loss can change, and obviously the damage of the overall scheme, we get a better idea as we work the case,” Douglas Olson of FBI’s Portland office said.

The FBI says investigators have identified 35 additional potential victims since Love’s arrest, all of them women, and believe there could be even more victims.

“Fraud can happen to anyone,” Olson said. “The victims in this case were targeted because they were trusting, responsible people. They believed they were building genuine relationships and legitimate financial futures.”

Love allegedly worked with a co-conspirator, 18-year-old Taylor Chan, using fake social media accounts, fabricated football workout videos, and falsified bank statements showing millions of dollars to gain the trust of their victims.

“[This case] has drawn a ton of attention from the public,” Olson said. “Unfortunately, some of that attention has included jokes, mockery, commentary that are unfairly targets and blames the victims in this case.”

“Victim blaming is unjust and harmful, and overlooks the calculated, highly manipulated lengths these individuals went to, to exploit and manipulate others,” Olson added.

Public records show Love has addresses in Stockton, Walnut Creek, and Southern California.

“He grew up in that Northern-Central region of California, I don’t know if it was specifically Stockton,” Olson said.

Investigators also revealed that Love used artificial intelligence to manipulate Google search results, making it harder for potential victims to uncover the truth.

“I think you can exercise some healthy skepticism, but also verify with other real people and individuals, not just on the internet,” Olson said.

Love and Chan remain in federal custody in Idaho. Both face one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

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.

Couple hit by lightning on trail answers questions on road to recovery

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Dacia Johnson, Justin Schecker

Click here for updates on this story

    WINTER GARDEN, Florida (WESH) — The couple who survived being struck by lightning on the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden took questions live on Friday as they work to recover.

“Words cannot adequately express our gratitude to the four good Samaritans, the first responders, and the medical professionals whose actions helped save our lives,” Aaron and Clare Walenga said in a statement last week.

Body camera video released by police shows an officer running to the couple, who were both face down on the ground.

“They were struck by lightning,” the woman who called 911 tells the officer. “Their umbrella was struck by lightning, and then they were both on their face.”

Other good Samaritans on the trail rushed to help and performed CPR on Clare before first responders arrived.

“He’s never been not breathing,” the 911 caller said in the body camera video. “She was blue.”

Aaron was alert, but struggling to move and speak.

“Stay on your side,” the officer tells Aaron. “I know it hurts.”

According to the incident report, Aaron told police he remembered holding hands with his wife when they got hit by lightning.

Aaron and Clare ended up at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

They both work at Foundation Academy in Winter Garden, where their three children go to school.

“I get to, you know, be your wife and the mom to my three precious children and it’s because of your actions that you took,” Clare said Friday at Foundation Academy.

The Walengas said they usually go for walks Wednesday nights near downtown Winter Garden after dropping their children off at a church youth group.

Two weeks ago, Aaron said he checked a weather app and noticed a storm brewing on the other side of town.

“We couldn’t see any of the lightning,” he said, “or I don’t remember hearing any of the thunder. And so, we decided to walk back.”

Charlotte Sachetti Weyand and Amber McManus had just passed the couple on the trail when lightning struck them.

“There’s a fence along the West Orange Trail right where we were and sparks kind of came off of it along the way, which we could see in our peripheral vision, and then so then we turned around,” Amber McManus said.

Charlotte immediately called 911.

“We are on the West Orange trail I think I may need medical assistance,” she’s heard saying in the call.

Aaron said he remembers being down on the ground after falling face first.

“I couldn’t move my limbs,” he said. “I couldn’t, respond the way I wanted to. I wanted to get to Clare, and I just couldn’t get up. I couldn’t really move. And I was in, the worst pain of my life.”

The good Samaritans said Clare had stopped breathing and she turned blue.

“Instinctually, I started to CPR, which instinctually is not something I do every day,” Michael Sachetti Weyand said. “I’ve never done CPR before in my life. But in that moment, I knew that I had to start.”

The Walengas only spent a few days in the hospital. The wounds on Aaron’s face are healing and Clare has overcome short-term memory loss from a concussion.

Now, they are leaning on their faith during their road to a full recovery.

“There were so many miracles that we witnessed from Clare being brought back to life,” Aaron said, “to the four of you being there on that trail at that time.”

While they have not been back yet, Aaron and Clare say they will absolutely be going back for another Wednesday night walk on the West Orange Trail.

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.

Neighbors fighting over drone turns into murder-for-hire plot, docs show

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Dacia Johnson, Avery Everett

Click here for updates on this story

    CLERMONT, Florida (WESH) — A man in the Lake County Jail is accused of plotting to kill his neighbor, and trying to hire a fellow inmate to carry it out.

David Butka, 69, is charged with one count of solicitation to commit murder.

It started on July 22, when the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Butka was first arrested. Deputies responded to a home in Clermont where a man said Butka was flying a drone over homes, which was “an ongoing civil issue.” Butka then allegedly threw a rock at a victim’s truck.

Another witness told deputies they saw Butka throw a rock at a truck.

An arrest document said deputies found Butka that day “had the intent, opportunity, and the ability to cause harm with the rock striking fear into the victim.”

Then, on Sept. 16, an inmate at the Lake County Jail told a detention supervisor that he had been approached by a fellow inmate, Butka, and asked to commit a murder, LCSO says.

Receipts show Butka had put $300 into the inmate’s account and had given his credit card to the inmate’s wife, docs show.

LCSO said the inmate was able to provide physical evidence, and Butka was charged with one count of solicitation to commit murder.

The intended target was one of Butka’s neighbors, who was a witness in his aforementioned criminal case, docs show.

Butka had been scheduled for court and release on Sept. 17, but was arrested again. Online records show his bond for the new charge was set at $25,000.

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.

Annual giant pumpkin weigh-in draws competitors from across the region

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Charlotte Hancox

Click here for updates on this story

    COLCHESTER, Vermont (WPTZ) — Giant pumpkins began rolling in Saturday morning, with the help of heavy equipment to get them onto the scale at Sam Mazza’s annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In.

The event brings together growers from across the region to see who can claim the heavyweight title.

“I just like seeing all the people,” said Jenna Baird, co-president of the Vermont Giant Pumpkin Growers Association. “I love seeing all the work that people have put into these pumpkins every year come together at the end. It’s not an easy thing to do to get one of these to the scale, so it’s just exciting to celebrate that with everybody.”

The weigh-in also drew crowds looking to check out the craft fair and get an up-close look at some of the biggest pumpkins around.

“I’ve seen big pumpkins before, but I don’t think I’ve seen them all in a row like this. They are really cool,” visitor Marcy D’Agostin said.

Wilbur Horton took home the crown for the heaviest pumpkin at 1,730 pounds.

For some competitors, just getting one of the massive pumpkins to the scale is an accomplishment of its own.

Growers said they are already looking ahead to next year’s competition.

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.

Family still searching for answers after funeral home mix-up, Hutchison launches internal review

CNN Newsource on September 21, 2026

By Tiarra Braddock

Click here for updates on this story

    DETROIT (WXYZ) — A Detroit family says they are still searching for answers after a heartbreaking mix-up at a funeral home left them without the body or ashes of their loved one.

The family of Kimberly Moore gathered Saturday to celebrate her life, but they say they were forced to do so without her remains after discovering what they believe was a devastating error involving funeral arrangements.

Moore’s daughter, Bianca Robinson, says she went to Hutchison Funeral Home on Friday before her mother’s scheduled viewing to say one final goodbye. That’s when she says she realized the woman in the casket was not her mother.

Robinson said she noticed identifying features did not match and immediately raised concerns with funeral home staff.

According to Robinson, she was then told her mother may have been cremated weeks earlier.

“We need answers,” Robinson said. “This is crazy. We don’t deserve this, and she doesn’t deserve this.”

The family says they still have not received the ashes that the funeral home claims belong to Moore.

“I’m just trying to figure out where is my mom,” Robinson said.

Despite the uncertainty, Moore’s family moved forward with plans to honor her memory on Saturday.

Her son, Christopher Moore, said the situation has made an already difficult time even harder.

“I can’t believe this happened to her,” he said, noting that his mother had carefully planned her funeral arrangements to spare her family additional stress.

Family members traveled from out of state to support Moore’s children through the ordeal. Her cousin, Geraldine Carr, came from Alabama and said the lack of closure has been especially painful.

“You can only grieve so much without saying goodbye to that person,” Carr said. “Her children are truly devastated. I’m devastated.”

In a statement provided Saturday, Hutchison Funeral Home said it is conducting an internal review into the incident.

“We are heartbroken and deeply sorry for what Ms. Moore’s family has experienced. We are aware of the family’s concerns and we will continue to communicate with them honestly and respectfully. We have launched our own internal review to determine exactly what happened and we will deal with it accordingly. Out of respect for Ms. Moore and her family, we ask that their privacy be honored during this time. We will share more when we can.”

-Hutchison Funeral Home

The funeral home also said it is continuing to communicate with the family and asked that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.

As the search for answers continues, Robinson said she is also thinking about the family of the woman whose body she says was mistakenly identified as her mother’s.

“Whoever this lady is, I pray that her family come forth,” Robinson said. “They need answers too.”

For Moore’s loved ones, the focus remains on finding out what happened and obtaining the closure they say every family deserves.

“She was sweet, just loving, funny, outspoken,” Robinson said while remembering her mother.

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.