See Drake Maye shave head to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital cancer research: “It’s bigger than football”

CNN Newsource on April 1, 2026

By Levan Reid, Matt Schooley

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye had his head shaved Tuesday during an event that raised more than $4.1 million for cancer research at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Maye got the new look during the annual Saving by Shaving event in Quincy. Telecommunication company Granite donated $2,500 for every eight inches of hair that was cut.

“Just to be able to give back, that’s what it’s about. It’s bigger than football. Just glad I could be a part of it, and such a great event to be able to go out there and be able to spread some awareness,” Maye said.

When the quarterback stepped up for his turn, his wife Ann Michael Maye began the buzz, though she said she was a bit nervous.

“I cut my grandma’s hair one time and it looked so horrible. It was during COVID, and she really needed a haircut so I gave her a haircut, and it looked so bad. So we’ll see how this goes,” she said.

Ann Michael let a professional take over to finish the job.

It was the latest charitable endeavor for the Mayes. Last week, the couple launched the MayeDay Family Foundation. The nonprofit aims to help children and families in need.

“Yeah, we’re excited. It’s the early stages. So we’re excited just what it can become. For us to give back to this area and back home [in North Carolina] it just means so much to us. Look forward to doing it together, that’s the best part,” the quarterback said.

“I think that’s one of our favorite parts, just getting more plugged into the community. Obviously, it’s more than football. There’s so many great people, great things here and we want to get more plugged in,” Ann Michael Maye added.

On the field, Maye struggled toward the end of the season after an MVP runner-up campaign as the Patriots made it all the way to the Super Bowl. He also was dealing with a shoulder injury, but Tuesday said there is no need for Patriots fans to be alarmed.

“Shoulder’s feeling good, feeling great. Just having some time off, being able to get back into throwing and lifting, feels great. Shouldn’t be an issue,” Maye 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.

Quadruple amputee accused of murder extradited from Virginia to Maryland

CNN Newsource on April 1, 2026

By JT Moodee Lockman

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A quadruple amputee and professional cornhole player has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland to face murder charges for an alleged deadly shooting, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Dayton James Webber, 27, was arrested in Charlottesville, Virginia, in late March after a man — Bradick Michael Wells, 27, of Waldorf — was found dead in Charlotte Hall, officials said.

Webber waived his extradition hearing last week during a virtual hearing he attended from Charlottesville.

“I’m trying to go back to Maryland,” Webber said at the time.

Extradited to Charles County

On Tuesday, Webber was transported from the Albemarle County Detention Center in Virginia to the Charles County Detention Center in Maryland, Sheriff’s officials said.

He is being held pending a bail review hearing, which will be conducted remotely.

Officials said “appropriate accommodations will be provided in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),” due to Webber’s specific medical and mobility needs. They declined to further explain what changes will be made.

“The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) understands that the unusual circumstances of this case generate many questions about how certain procedures are adapted and how provisions of the ADA are specifically met,” officials said. “However, the CCSO will not provide additional information regarding booking processes, housing, equipment, or techniques beyond what is described.”

Quadruple amputee charged with murder

Webber is facing charges of first- and second-degree murder in connection with the death of Wells, police said.

Wells’ body was found after two people flagged down deputies, saying they had witnessed a deadly shooting.

The witnesses said they were in the back seat of a car when the driver, whom they identified as Webber, allegedly shot and killed the passenger in the front seat during an argument, according to charging documents.

The witnesses refused to help Webber pull the victim out of the car, and instead left the scene while Webber fled with the victim in the car, charging documents allege.

Nearly two hours later, a neighbor reported a body in a yard about 15 miles from where the alleged shooting occurred.

Alexander Goodman, Webber’s attorney, has declined to comment.

Cornhole player and quadruple amputee

The charges against Webber have garnered attention across the U.S.

The professional cornhole player became a quadruple amputee after contracting a bacterial infection that led to sepsis when he was 10 months old.

Webber competed with the American Cornhole League, but the organization said he has not been active since late 2024.

The ACL said it was aware of the allegations but declined to comment on the active legal situation.

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Woman says Boston Police shot through closed apartment door into son’s bedroom: “I thought I was going to die”

CNN Newsource on April 1, 2026

By Cheryl Fiandaca

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — The WBZ I-Team uncovered a police shooting that could have ended in tragedy. Boston Police officers opened fire through a closed apartment door, the bullets going into the wall of a five-year old’s bedroom. The woman says she was home alone and says she and her son could have been killed.

The 25-year-old did not want to be identified. “I thought I was going to die,” she said. “I thought I was going to die.”

Woman said she heard 4 or 5 gunshots

On February 14, 2026, she was in her Dorchester apartment alone folding clothes. At around 10 p.m. she heard banging on the door. The woman says, “I tried to look through the peephole, but it was blocked. So, I opened the door, and I saw five to six police officers, so I closed it again, I got scared and I locked it.”

Moments later, she heard gunshots and immediately thought she got shot. She told the I-Team she heard four or five shots, showing the holes in the wall and the door.

Boston Police officers fired several shots through the closed apartment door. The bullets went through the wall and into her son’s bedroom. The woman says, one of the bullets “hit the left window and the window shattered.” Showing the I-Team where her son’s TV usually is and his bed. She said, if he had been home, “he would have been dead.”

Todd McGhee is a former Massachusetts State Trooper and a security expert. He says there would be no reason to shoot through a closed door. “There is no reason to arbitrarily shoot through a door not knowing what’s fully on the other side like a 5-year-old or other occupants, does seem to some level of negligence,” McGhee said. “Law enforcement just doesn’t just show up at a residence and then start putting holes in the doors with bullets. That is absurd to me.”

“They pinned me down”

The woman said after the police shot though her door they broke it down. “I ran into my room, and they pinned me down they tased me. They said they were just doing a check, like a wellness check. I don’t know for who but I was alone… I was no threat to them I was no threat to them.”

She said after police tased her; she was taken to the hospital.

“If they were trying to bring her under arrest and there was a level of resistance, then using the Taser would have been the right level of force. Not firearms, not deploying lethal force,” McGhee said. “We need more information. I have never heard of anything like this.”

Dorchester police shooting under investigation

Boston Police told the I-Team the shooting is under investigation and refused our request for the body camera video. The department did provide a copy of the incident report that says police heard someone screaming in the apartment and were met at the door by a woman who had a knife. The report says she refused to drop the knife and that’s when officers discharged their firearms. It also says after the shooting she continued to refuse to drop the knife, and officers then used their Taser.

The woman denied having any kind of weapon, gun or knife.

The report makes no mention of shooting through the closed door or breaking it down to get inside, nor does it list a knife as evidence.

Days after the shooting, detectives came back to the apartment to dig the bullets out of the wall. The woman says detectives did want to talk to her, but she wants to speak to a lawyer first, calling the experience scary and a little sad since if her son had been home, she says he would have been killed.

She was not arrested or charged with any crime. Boston Police say the officers involved in the shooting are on administrative duty.

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.

20-year sentence for Baltimore pet crematorium owner who gave sand instead of ashes

CNN Newsource on April 1, 2026

By JT Moodee Lockman

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A Baltimore County pet crematorium owner was sentenced to 20 years in jail and ordered to pay $12,000 in restitution after he provided pet parents with sand and debris instead of ashes, according to the County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Rodney Ward pleaded guilty to theft and malicious destruction of property in February after he and his wife, Yalanda, were both charged in connection with a scam at Loving Care Pet Funeral and Cremation Services.

During Rodney Ward’s sentencing hearing, more than 60 victims spoke out, saying they received boxes of remains which turned out to be gravel, baking soda and debris, court officials said. Fifteen of the victims shared verbal impact statements, while another 40 shared written statements.

During the hearing, the judge called Rodney Ward “particularly cruel,” and said he caused “real pain” and utter betrayal.

WJZ has reached out to Rodney Ward’s attorney for comment.

Yalanda Ward’s trial is set to begin on May 6, 2026, court records show.

Fake pet crematorium scam

Through their unlicensed pet crematorium, located in Catonsville, the Wards collected about $13,000 from victims, according to court documents.

Investigators uncovered the alleged scam in April 2025, when the remains of 38 different animals were found in the back of a hearse in Baltimore.

During Rodney Ward’s trial, prosecutors said the material that was given to pet owners did not contain any animal remains.

A few of the samples contained human elements such as teeth and dental implants, prosecutors said. Most of the purported ashes contained “building materials,” like concrete powder, according to forensic anthropologist Dr. Rhys Williams.

Victims speak out during trial

During Rodney Ward’s trial, dozens of pet owners impacted by the alleged scam spoke out.

Sharon Thomas said she trusted Loving Care Pet Funeral with the remains of her 17-year-old service dog, Blackie Dior.

“He quoted scripture; he did all of this to make me feel comfortable. I would never think that he would be so demonic,” said Thomas.

Despite the investigation, court officials said some pet remains are still not accounted for.

“Why did you leave them on the side of the road? Why did you pack them in that hearse, and for the rest of us, where are our pets?” Nikki Pickens said during the trial.

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.

University of Utah scientists have made a discovery that could help battle Great Salt Lake dust

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Ben Winslow

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    FARMINGTON BAY, Utah (KSTU) — A recent scientific find by University of Utah researchers could help combat the problem of toxic dust blowing off the exposed Great Salt Lake bed.

They have found a freshwater reservoir underneath the lake’s salty playa, in an area between Antelope Island and Farmington Bay. It started when scientists observed “islands” of the invasive plant phragmites in the exposed lake bed.

“They require a lot of fresh water and the question was that Great Salt Lake has salty water, so how [does] this phragmites grow on the salt water because they require a lot of fresh water?” University of Utah geology and geophysics professor Michael Zhdanov told FOX 13 News.

Using helicopters and specialized equipment to send electromagnetic pulses into the ground, they were able to confirm the existence of a freshwater reservoir. The research, recently published in Scientific Reports, offers promise for a threat to surrounding communities. As the Great Salt Lake declines due to water diversions, drought and impacts from a changing climate, strong winds pick up dust and blow it into nearby communities.

The lake bed has naturally-occurring toxins, like arsenic, that are typically covered by water. The University of Utah is conducting other research on the impacts of the dust on the environment and human health. But Professor Zhdanov said this could help provide a new water source to help reduce the impact of the dust.

“This, we believe, is one of the most important and firsthand applications of this, but this requires more work because we need to cover the entire Great Salt Lake. We need to find exactly how much, where it’s located, and then make some educated decision where to drill and how to use it,” he said.

It remains unknown the extent of the reservoir. But more broadly, the techniques used to find the freshwater reservoir could be used in other parts of the world to help discover new sources of water.

The Utah Department of Natural Resources funded some of the research as part of its efforts to reverse the Great Salt Lake’s declines. The U. will seek additional funding to expand the research to other parts of the lake.

For Dave Foerber, a Kaysville-area birder who came out on Monday to look at the migratory birds on the Great Salt Lake, it was interesting research. But he believed there was a broader work that must be done.

“It’d be better if we could get some more water in the lake,” he told FOX 13 News. “That’d be the best thing.”

This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake—and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org.

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.

Group of alleged burglars arrested after returning to apologize to victims

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Michael Martin

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    HOLLADAY, Utah (KSTU) — A group of alleged burglars from Las Vegas was arrested in Utah after officials said they returned to apologize to their victims and give some of the items back.

Holman Yecid Londono-Poveda, 20, and Karla Yuliana Diaz-Basilio, 30, were arrested on Monday and face 3 charges of burglary of a dwelling. Share Castellano-Suarez, 18, was also arrested on two charges of burglary of a dwelling and one theft charge.

According to court documents, on March 8, the Unified Police Department was made aware of a burglary that happened on March 6. The victims told police that they had just returned from an out-of-town trip to find a large number of items missing from their home.

Those missing items included jewelry, designer bags and purses, watches, suitcases, and coats.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video and say they saw a Kia Rio entering the driveway of the victim’s home. Two suspects are seen exiting the vehicle and gaining access to the home.

The Kia was also seen leaving but returning a short time later when the other suspects loaded the car full of items and left again. Two hours later, police say two suspects from earlier returned and were witnessed taking additional items.

Police say another burglary was also committed slightly before the other reported burglary, and they believe the same group was responsible.

Detectives determined that the Kia Rio seen at the victim’s home had come from Las Vegas and returned the same day. Officials say the three suspects can be seen on surveillance video at several Utah locations.

On March 26, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department served a search warrant at the home of two suspects. During the search, police say they found multiple items of clothing that the suspects were seen wearing.

Four days later, the suspects allegedly returned to Utah to return a majority of what was taken to the victims. Investigators say the suspects also wrote an apology letter to the victims and offered an apology in person.

Later that day, Unified police stopped the Kia Rio on the southbound I-15 and arrested the three suspects.

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.

Brandy, Grammy-winning singer and actress, receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Michelle Fisher

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    HOLLYWOOD, California (KABC) — It’s been a long time coming for Grammy-winning singer Brandy, who now has her very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – a milestone that comes after decades of chart-topping hits.

Her star, near the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue, was unveiled during a ceremony Monday.

It was a moment she had dreamt of since her time at nearby Hollywood High.

“Seeing the stars on the Walk of Fame lit something in me. It made me believe, it made me affirm over my own life: I’m going to sing my way onto one of these stars… and I DID! “

The multi-platinum selling award-winner is an influential figure in R&B music. Her roles on television and film have also had a lasting impacts on pop culture.

The sitcom “Moesha” inspired a generation including “Insecure” creator Issa Rae, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony.

“Brandy made Moesha someone I wanted to befriend, the girl I wanted to be. At a time when beauty standards on television looked nothing like us, Brandy was the standard,” Rae said.

And who can forget Brandy as Cinderella or Roxie Hart in “Chicago” on Broadway?

Her famous friends, including Monica, Kehlani and Jenifer Lewis joined her family and droves of her fans Monday as more than three decades of career accomplishments were set in stone.

“She sustained and lived the spectrum of her dream,” Lewis said.

Brandy humbly called it all a blessing.

“I knew it was going to be emotional, but I didn’t know how emotional it was going to be. I’m so grateful. This is unbelievable,” Brandy 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.

Reality TV stars targeted in road rage incident caught on video in Hollywood

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Liz Nagy

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KABC) — A violent case of road rage was caught on video in the heart of Hollywood over the weekend, and now, the two reality TV stars who were targeted are sharing their story.

Patrik Simpson and Pol’ Atteu are fashion experts who co-host the show “Gown and Out Beverly Hills” and the “Undressed” podcast.

Now, they’re speaking about what happened to them on Sunday in hopes that their attacker will be caught.

The incident happened at Melrose Avenue and Vine Street. The couple said the driver of a Toyota 4Runner blocked their vehicle at the intersection before getting out of his vehicle.

Atteau and Simpson sat stunned in sheer terror as the man approached them.

“He gave me this death glare, like, literally, I thought he was going to kill us,” Simpson, who recorded the video, said.

The reality stars say the violent interaction came without warning as they sat at the intersection around 9:20 a.m.

“Drove on the wrong side of the road, pulled in front of us diagonal, and trapped our car,” Simpson recalled. “We couldn’t turn left. We couldn’t turn right. We couldn’t go forward. We did not know what was going on.”

“Lock the door. Lock the door. Call the police!” Simpson exclaims in the video as the man is seen punching and kicking their driver’s side window and door.

“I thought, ‘If this man is going back to the car, he’s going to get something… I’m dead. I’m literally… dead.’ This is that moment where I’m faced with that fear of, ‘I’m just going to die here. This is it,'” Atteu, who was driving at the time, said.

Unable to smash through their glass window, the man returned to his 4Runner and took off.

“He punched the window… blood on the car. His hand was bleeding. That’s how hard he hit the car,” Simpson said.

The couple followed the escaping assailant for several miles, against the advice of a 911 dispatcher who told them not to follow the driver.

“I wanted the license plate because if we did not have the license plate, we would not be able to find this man, so we can make him be accountable for what he did,” Simpson said.

The couple says they still can’t figure out what triggered the man in the first place.

“It’s got to be mistaken identity, because I don’t know who this person is. I don’t know where this person came from,” Atteu said. “It just didn’t make sense, like, 9:20 in the morning, and when I’m looking in through the window, as much as I could see, there was someone in the passenger seat holding a baby.”

Now, still shaken by the violent punch and kick to their car, the design stars are desperate to hold the man accountable.

“This guy has so much rage in him. He doesn’t care who he is doing this to, why he’s doing it,” Atteu said.

So far, the couple says they have not been able to identify the driver. They passed his license plate number to investigators when they filed the police report. Los Angeles police said they did not have an update on the case.

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.

Pink tutus popping up in parks across Birmingham surprise and delight residents

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Bryce Oselen

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Pink tutus have mysteriously appeared on statues in Birmingham parks, including Avondale Park, English Village, and the Redmont Park Historic District, sparking curiosity among residents.

Wade Merrit, who frequently visits Avondale Park with his dog, was surprised to see the park’s elephant statue, “Miss Fancy,” sporting a pink tutu.

“It’s funny, it’s going to bring attention to the neighborhood,” Merrit said.

Christian Jackson, another Birmingham resident, expressed his curiosity about the decorations.

“I like it, I’d like to know why it’s there,” Jackson said.

Jackson speculated that the tutus might be an effort to beautify the city.

“Well, I think somebody is trying to make the city a little more prettier, you know, you never really know nowadays,” he said.

Jackson also suggested that the decorations could be the work of students celebrating Easter.

“Some little girls were probably trying to decorate the city, man, you never know,” he said.

Merrit hopes to uncover the reason behind the tutus.

“I’ve heard about the tutus going up on statues around town, and obviously I can see the ones in the park, but I haven’t heard anything. I don’t know why they’re there or who’s doing it,” he said.

Local artist Renne Plata has been identified as the person responsible for placing the pink tutus on multiple statues in the Birmingham area. Plata declined an on-camera interview but said the project is intended to promote community.

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 turns grief into life-saving mission after 26-year-old dies from skateboarding accident

CNN Newsource on March 31, 2026

By Naomi Popa

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    WILLIAMSTON, South Carolina (WYFF) — An Upstate family is turning grief into a life-saving mission after a man tragically died from a skateboarding accident.

Twenty-six-year-old Troy Link experienced a traumatic brain injury and acute respiratory failure after he fell from his board on W. Main Street in Williamston on March 9.

“We were getting a lot of that. It’s just a skateboarding accident. Just a skateboarding accident. I was like, no, I don’t think you understand. Like, this is significant,” Callie Tayrien, TJ’s sister, said.

Tayrien is a mother, a nurse, a wife, and an older sister to three siblings. She was 12 years older than TJ and was just recently building an even closer relationship with her brother.

“He wanted us to all be closer. And I promised him that we would work on that. And even though it took this for that to happen, he got that wish, you know, we were all together, and I just hope he knows that.”

When TJ fell from his skateboard, he became unresponsive and was E-vaced to Greenville Memorial Hospital. It was there that TJ spent 15 days fighting for his life. According to Tayrien, doctors monitored TJ’s brain for two days before it was determined that he needed surgery. He underwent a craniectomy due to the swelling of his brain. At the time, TJ was also experiencing an impact on his lungs.

“Knowing kind of how he came in was pretty indicative of what his prognosis was. And they’ve just continued to have significant issues with his lungs. And they tried everything. They exhausted every option,” Tayrien said.

Tayrien was joined by her sister Chloe, Kirsti, her mother, and countless other family members at the hospital while TJ fought for his life before he died March 24.

“I wish I could tell him I love him again. And I told him a lot during those 15 days, but I wish I could have said it sooner and more often,” Tayrien said.

TJ loved hockey; he was a fan of the Dallas Stars and liked watching the Greenville Swamp Rabbits as well. Tayrien told WYFF 4 that TJ was an avid music listener, was full of life, funny, and determined to make people smile.

“I can’t stress that enough. Like he was just the sweetest and kindest person,” Tayrien said.

Tayrien wants people to hear her brother’s story and be reminded of the importance of wearing a helmet and taking preventative safety measures seriously.

“A helmet with padding could have, you know, like I said, I don’t think it would have necessarily prevented a head injury, but maybe not one not as severe. And he would still be here with us,” Tayrien said.

When TJ’s diagnosis was getting worse, his family was approached by staff at the hospital about his decision to be a donor. His mother knew firsthand how important that was to him, and according to Tayrien, was even encouraging his mother to become a donor.

TJ donated three vital organs, his kidneys and heart. Among those three are countless others that TJ was willing to donate after his passing. Tayrien said it’s been comforting knowing that someone has a piece of TJ, specifically, his heart.

“My mom’s like, I hope I can bring a stethoscope and just listen. I just want to hear it again,” she said.

Tayrien’s two children were never able to meet their uncle, but Callie promises to remind them how selfless and kind he was. She said she will continue to advocate for helmets and safety prevention with her own children in hopes that it could save a life one day.

“I think he would give you the shirt off his back. So, the fact that he literally was able to give somebody his heart is, you know, more than he could have ever asked. And to us, his family,” she said.

Before TJ moved to Anderson County, he lived in Tennessee, where he advocated for a multi-use sports pad/skate park in November 2025. While the idea wasn’t passed by the city of LaFollette then, his mother plans on advocating for the park in the future, with hopes it can be named after him and ensure that helmets are mandatory.

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.