Fake officer strikes woman in head during traffic stop; deputies seek witnesses

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Kelcie Bolden

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    ALCORN COUNTY, Miss. (WAPT) — The Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a woman reported being attacked by someone posing as law enforcement early Thursday morning.

Deputies said they received a crash alert around 6:30 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 72 and County Road 605. When deputies arrived, they were unable to locate any vehicle in the area.

About 30 minutes later, the sheriff’s office was called to Magnolia Hospital after a woman arrived reporting an assault.

According to deputies, the woman told investigators she had been pulled over by an unknown vehicle with a blue light on the dashboard. She said a white man wearing a dark-colored T-shirt asked for her driver’s license before striking her in the head with an object, causing her to lose consciousness.

The woman told authorities she woke up and drove herself to the hospital. Her condition has not been released.

Deputies are asking anyone who was traveling along Highway 72 around that time and saw anything suspicious to contact the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office.

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‘Get on your knees and pray’: Upstate family visiting Jamaica try to get home after Hurricane Melissa

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Miya Payton

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    ABBEVILLE, S.C. (WYFF) — What was supposed to be a trip to celebrate multiple birthdays turned into frightening moments for one upstate family. A small group of people from the Upstate are in Jamaica waiting and hoping to return home. Communication with their families has been minimal due to signal disruptions from Hurricane Melissa.

Dominique Smith and Victoria Sutton and several of their family and friends landed in Jamaica and reached their hotel last Saturday, that’s when they learned of what was ahead of them. Smith recalls his first thought after hearing about Hurricane Melissa.

“How are we going to get home?” Smith said.

Smith called his mother, Shamekial Gray, who was at home in Abbeville. Gray gave her son the only advice she knew.

“Everybody, get into the same room. Y’all get on your knees and pray,” Gray said.

“Everybody was in shock and ran to the room, we been in the room ever since,” Smith said.

When Hurricane Melissa hit, Smith and Victoria’s mothers’ phones went radio silent.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Gray said. “Sitting up waiting for a call and never got one until the next day.”

“Instantly, I just started praying that God would spare them of this storm,” said Victoria’s mother, Tamara Sutton.

Now that the storm has passed, it leaves behind uncertainty.

“We really don’t know when we’re coming home, actually,” Smith said.

“We’re just ready to get home to our kids,” Victoria said.

“I have to hear every day in the morning when I get up from my granddaughter, either can she call her mom or will her mom be home today?” said Tamara.

On Facebook, there has been an outpour of community concern and prayers.

“I love you and I thank you for praying for us, and believe it or not, you’re keeping us going,” Smith said.

Smith’s mom doesn’t know when she will get a call from him again and doesn’t know when he will get home, but says there is one thing she is certain of.

“I don’t ever want him to leave,” she said.

Gray and Tamara said they want the community to continue to pray for not only their children but also for all those who want to return home and for those who live in Jamaica.

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Jury awards $25 million to mother of Maine teen who died after misdiagnosis

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Jacob Murphy

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    PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) — A jury has sided in favor of a Maine woman in a medical malpractice case involving her late daughter.

Lyndsey Sutherland was awarded $25 million Thursday night, more than four years after the death of 15-year-old Jasmine “Jazzy” Vincent, who was from the Gray-New Gloucester area.

Jazzy started feeling very sick on July 14, 2021, and was initially diagnosed with pneumonia.

A doctor with the Mid Coast Medical Group later misdiagnosed Jazzy with gynecomastia, a condition commonly found in men who use anabolic steroids.

Jazzy ultimately died of cardiac arrest on Aug. 1, 2021, 18 days after she first felt sick. Days after she died, it was determined Jazzy’s cardiac arrest was caused by a fluid buildup related to acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer Sutherland’s lawyers said is highly curable if properly diagnosed.

Sutherland’s lawyers argued Jazzy’s doctor at Mid Coast Medical Group did not review her medical history, did not run a complete set of vital signs and did not provide her with standard, appropriate care.

The defense argued that medical personnel have to make many decisions every day, and that they should not be punished if they are not always correct. The defense also argued Jazzy’s primary care, Martin’s Point Health Care, bears responsibility in the case.

The jury ultimately found that Mid Coast Medical Group was negligent.

Maine’s Total Coverage contacted MaineHealth, which owns Mid Coast Medical Group, with a request for comment but had not received a response as of Thursday night.

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Alleghany County deputies searching for runaway inmate

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By JD Franklin III

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    ALLEGHANY (WXII) — Deputies in Alleghany are searching for an escaped inmate.

According to the sheriff’s office, the inmate’s name is Daniel Allen. He ran away from officers on Wednesday night during a work detail at the law enforcement center in Sparta.

Deputies describe Allen as 5 feet 10 inches tall. Officers said his current charges are non-violent.

Anyone with information about Allen’s whereabouts should contact the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office.

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Wayland school officials address racist incident involving Black student’s jersey in locker room

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Peter Eliopoulos, Phil Tenser

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    WAYLAND, Mass. (WCVB) — School officials are investigating a racist incident involving a Black student’s football jersey in the locker room of Wayland High School, families were told Friday.

A yellow plastic “children at play” street safety figure was discovered in the boys locker room, hung by a belt around its neck from a ceiling pipe, according to a message from WHS Principal Allyson Mizoguchi. The figure was wearing the student’s jersey.

She added that a student immediately reported the discovery to staff, sparking an investigation that has identified students responsible for the incident.

“This centuries-old symbol of hate and racial violence evokes deep emotion and has no place in our community,” Mizoguchi wrote.

“This racist act violates a sense of safety for valued members of our community and is counter to the values we hold sacred as a district,” Superintendent David Fleishman wrote in a note to families.

Mizoguchi said the WHS counseling team “and other trusted adults” would be available to students Friday. She also encouraged students to speak with their families about the incident and reach out to the administration if they require additional assistance.

“We do not tolerate acts of hate in Wayland, and we will take all appropriate actions to ensure accountability, learning, and healing within our community,” the principal said.

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100-year-old Wichita woman shows there is no age limit on Halloween spirit

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Maddy Terril

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    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — Stripes, polka dots, and wings. Oh, my!

100-year-old Dorothy Jones skips the tricks and brings the treat of a smile to everyone she comes across in her Halloween costumes every year.

It started five years ago as a joke with the receptionist at her annual check-up at the doctor’s office when they realized her appointment for the following year would be on Halloween.

“We’re expecting you not to just come in your ordinary, plain clothes,” Jones told us.

She said the staff laughed. She didn’t.

Jones took it as a challenge, and from there, a tradition was born.

This year, however, she said, was the most fun because she got to stretch the fun not just to her annual check-up but also to her hair appointment.

“I was two days early, and so I was afraid I would miss all of that; believe me, I didn’t miss any of it. It was great fun, and I enjoyed it,” Jones said.

In December, Jones will turn 101.

Each year brings new challenges and questions.

“When you get to be 101, don’t you begin to get a little worried. I do, but I just keep rolling. So we’ll see,” Jones said.

Adding that each year, when Halloween comes to a close, she takes the costume off and forgets about it until the next year.

Her children, Toni Johnson and Greg Jones, showed off their sweet and fun dynamic with their mother, who, still with a century under her belt, runs the show.

“It’s been fun. And you know, whatever she wants to do at this point, 101 years old,” Greg, her son, said.

They have now stepped into a caretaking role for the woman who has taken care of them for so many years, and now they are just happy to give back.

“We take care of her, and are going to take care of her forever,” Greg said.

While Dorothy’s body has slowed down, her kids said her mind is just as sharp as ever.

“She’s very independent. She’s very bright, you know,” her daughter, Toni, said.

As long as Dorothy Jones is able, she said she will keep dressing up, and with that, joy will continue to be spread to all those she comes in contact with.

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Unity Township church group traveling to Jamaica to help Hurricane Melissa victims

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Ed DiOrio

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    UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAE) — Those in need in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa will soon have help on the way from Westmoreland County.

A few mission groups from Western Pennsylvania go to the Caribbean, and now Charter Oak Church in Unity Township is joining the relief effort.

A group from the church will leave in the early morning on Saturday. Lorren Riggle and Todd Hrtyanski are two men going on the trip. They’ve gone to the island many times.

“In particular, this is my eighth time going to Jamaica itself,” said Riggle, the manager of Local Outreach Missions at Charter Oak. “We organize many trips throughout the year. We go into communities and help out however we can.”

“It’s a blessing to go help people and build relationships,” said Hrtyanksi, the trip’s leader. “We’ve done this for 20-plus years. You can multiply that, and over the years, think about how much we’ve taken down there.”

They normally help the people of Harmons.

“We continue to go back to the same community,” Riggle said. “We want to see the evolution and growth of that community through what we’re pouring out. We’ve worked at a medical clinic, built a medical clinic, refurbished a clinic, and we’ll go into the schools and help with tutoring. It’s awe-inspiring in the sense that they’re happy with what they have.”

They organize the trips through the group Won by One. It’s a mission trip organization that originated in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Twenty-one Westmoreland County residents signed up for this year’s trip.

However, this trip won’t be like the others.

“It’s going to be unknown for us,” Riggle said. “This trip was scheduled last November to go down.”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, that changes the game plan of how to help those in need.

“Our expectation is to go beyond Harmons and the village that we normally work in,” Riggle said. “We’ll start helping folks with their cleanup process.

“[We’ll be] in the schools, we’ll build a house, we’ll build a foundation while we’re there,” Hrtyanksi said. “We’ll be redoing the roofs and whatever else we can do. Each day, we’ll do different serving opportunities in the community.”

Regardless of what the group comes across, they’re bringing a lot with them. Over 1,000 pounds of supplies are being flown down through 21 suitcases.

“We’re going with food, school, and medical supplies,” Riggle said. “They’re all going to be needed regardless. We’ve got peanut butter, dried goods, and dry milk they can reformulate when they get down there.”

After one week, they’re coming back with a lot less.

“The clothes that we wear down there, we’ll leave with them,” Hrtyanksi said. “This week, we’ll leave behind our shoes and everything.”

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Charges dropped against 3 Boca Raton residents accused of livestreaming child sex abuse

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Ari Hait

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (WPBF) — Charges have been dropped against three Boca Raton residents accused of livestreaming child sex abuse.

Walquiria Cassini, her boyfriend Ryan Londono, and her adult son Matthew Cassini were all arrested in March 2024.

Cassini and Londono were charged with sexually abusing two young boys for years, recording the acts, and streaming them live online for payment. Matthew Cassini was also charged with sexually abusing the boys.

When the three made their first court appearance, a longtime judge expressed shock at the severity of the accusations, saying, “To shock the court’s conscience is frankly a difficult proposition at this stage of this court’s career.”

The FBI raided Cassini’s home in March 2024, discovering ring cameras, tripods, and other items allegedly used to record the abuse.

However, 19 months later, the charges were officially dismissed on Thursday when the state attorney’s office filed a document which stated, in part, “New information was brought to the state’s attention that requires dismissal of these charges.”

The document did not specify the nature of the new information.

Cassini’s attorneys reiterated the defendants’ longstanding insistence that the allegations were false, releasing a statement that said, “The accusations originated from a vindictive and jealous ex-boyfriend who sought retaliation after being evicted from Cassini’s Boca Raton home.”

The statement further emphasized, “This case serves as a powerful reminder that false allegations can destroy lives, and highlights the need for stronger safeguards when family disputes escalate into criminal accusations.”

Walquiria Cassini and her attorneys have scheduled a news conference for Friday.

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Death threats to ICE on social media connected to Cape Coral man arrested in DHS raid

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By James Curtis, Madison Zaleski

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    CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WBBH) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a statement Friday morning that details what led to a raid in Cape Coral Thursday to arrest a man accused of making death threats toward ICE and its agents on Bluesky.

According to DHS, Joseph Giancola Jr. was arrested after he was accused of posting death threats on the social media platform Bluesky directed toward ICE. DHS said some of the posts include “Shoot the ICE Nazis down like the rabid dogs they are” and “They come near me, and I shoot to kill. Be warned”.

Giancola Jr. is accused of making these death threats on Bluesky under the pseudonym “Cain Delon.”

The raid happened at a home on Chiquita Boulevard around 6 a.m. Thursday. Anna Giancola, who owns the home, said they were awakened by Homeland Security putting a hole through their door.

Anna said she did not receive a warrant until a hole was put in the door. According to Homeland Security, they had a warrant to detain Giancola Jr., her father.

Video from cameras in the home showed men in military grade protection armed with guns entering the home. Anna said one of the men then put a piece of tape over the camera. She also said one of the cameras was ripped out, and the others were turned to face the wall.

According to Anna, everyone in the home was taken outside, and Homeland Security barricaded and searched through every room in the house.

Giancola Jr. is scheduled to make his initial appearance in court Friday afternoon.

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Carlisle Indian School disinterment program returns children to their tribes

CNN Newsource on October 31, 2025

By Matt Barcaro

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    CARLISLE, Pa. (WGAL) — The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first federally funded, off-reservation boarding school for Indigenous children in the United States. From 1879-1918, approximately 7,800 students were enrolled.

The school, in Carlisle, Pa., became a model for Federal Indian boarding schools and was designed to assimilate Indigenous children into white, American culture.

At least 170 students died while enrolled at Carlisle and were buried at the school’s cemetery.

Over the years, a disinterment program has exhumed the children’s remains to return them to their tribes around the country, so they can receive a proper burial.

WGAL continues to cover developments at the Carlisle Indian School and will update this page with new phases of the disinterment program, student identifications, and repatriations to tribes across the country.

Bookmark the page and check back often for the latest updates as work continues.

Oct. 7, 2025: Sixteen more children return home The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes in Oklahoma have successfully returned the remains of 16 children from the Carlisle Indian School Cemetery to their tribal lands, following this year’s disinterment program. That story is here.

Sept. 4, 2025: Work begins to repatriate more remains The Office of Army Cemeteries started work at the Carlisle Indian School Cemetery to repatriate the remains of Native American children, with a focus on returning more remains this year than in any previous year. WGAL’s Matt Barcaro was there.

March 3, 2025: More repatriations announced WGAL learned of U.S. Army plans to repatriate more remains from the Carlisle Indian School cemetery in 2025.

Oct. 25, 2024: President Joe Biden apologizes

President Joe Biden formally apologized to Native Americans for the “sin” of the government-run boarding school system that forcibly separated children from their parents.

History of the Carlisle Indian School Taken from their reservations, thousands of Native American children underwent an education experiment at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1879-1918). Capt. Richard Henry Pratt, the school’s founder, summed up his mission in one thought: “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.”

Native children from across the United States and its territories were forced to wear military-style clothes, cut their hair, and give up sacred items they brought to Carlisle.

The Carlisle model spawned 24 other off-reservation schools, according to the National Park Service.

While at the school, at least 170 children died, most likely from disease. They are buried in a cemetery on the current grounds of the Carlisle Barracks at the U.S. Army War College.

Carlisle Barracks also offers a self-guided walking tour of the historic school grounds and lodging accommodations on site. Carlisle Barracks does not charge admission but a driver’s license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance are required to enter.

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