Category: CNN Regional

By Isabella Ledonne

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    OLATHE, Kansas (KSHB) — Fireworks caused a fire Sunday night at an Olathe duplex that forced 13 people out of their homes.

No serious injuries were reported.

Damage to the duplex is estimated at $150,000, according to the Olathe Fire Department.

Fireworks are legal in Kansas, but in many of the state’s counties, including Johnson County, it is illegal shoot fireworks.

What started as summer fun for one Olathe family turned into the devastating loss of a home and a family pet.

“Right now, we just don’t have anywhere to go,” Lisa Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez came back to her house on 152nd Street and found a shocking scene.

Her home was nearly gone after fireworks partially burned down the duplex.

“I wasn’t aware that my kids had fireworks,” Gonzalez said. “My daughter lit off a couple of fireworks in the back, just being a kid.”

Gonzalez says her 12-year-old and 14-year-old daughters came back from a family member’s house in Tonganoxie with fireworks.

Fireworks are legal there during the Fourth of July holiday week. Gonzalez explained she wasn’t home when her daughters were lighting off small fireworks.

She believes discarded fireworks caused a fire that reached the lawnmower’s gas tank.

“They weren’t big fireworks; they were just the little pop-it ones and that’s all it took,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t buy my kids the fireworks and a kid being a kid, I guess trying to have a little bit of fun, but one little mistake led to something that ended like this and unfortunately left me and my five children without a house.”

Her daughters got minor burns and cuts from the fire. Lisa found the family’s cat after the flames were put out.

“[My daughters] were both trying to run in the house and find the cat before they got out,” Gonzalez said. “We had to bury her this morning.”

Fireworks are prohibited within Olathe city limits, but the fire department still sees accidents every year.

“It’s one of our busiest weeks with a very unique hazard,” said Capt. Mike Hall, Olathe Fire Department spokesperson. “All of our property is close together, and a lot of times these ordinances are just there for the safety of everybody.”

Hall said going to a professional fireworks display is the safest way to celebrate the holiday.

“[Fireworks] can be a great time and they can be a horrible time, all in the same sentence,” he said. “Most of these fires, when it comes to fireworks, are pretty significant.”

The fire left the Gonzalez family with only the clothes on their backs.

“As a mother, you put yourself on the back burner, and I’m just more worried about getting my kids what they need right now until I can figure out where we’re going to go and find a house,” Gonzalez said. “People are giving backlash, but I don’t think people are remembering that they were once 14 and 12 years old, too. I see now why there is the law. It leads to things like this.”

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.

By Taylor Locke

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    CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — Cohen, the Chesterfield County 2-year-old who lost his foot after he was accidentally run over by a lawn mower, has a name for his prosthetic leg: Nubby. According to his mom, it’s Cohen and Nubby against the world.

Cohen lost his foot in March. Less than a month after receiving his prosthetic, he spent a full day at Maymont Park — visiting the petting zoo, going on a long walk, and jumping lily pads.

His mother, Brittney Walls, said she couldn’t believe what she was watching.

“He’s walking like he’s had his prosthetic for six months and it hasn’t been a month,” Walls said.

The day Cohen received his prosthetic, he ran out of his doctor’s office like nothing had changed. Walls was recording the milestone on video.

“I feel like I’ve gone through the phases of disbelief. I still lay down sometimes at night and I’m like, ‘This isn’t real. This doesn’t feel real,'” Walls said. “But when you look at him and there is a limb difference it is very real. But Cohen just rolls with it like, ‘That’s my leg,’ just waves it in the air. We named it Nubby.”

The support from the community and beyond has been significant for the family. In March, Home Depot sponsored a ramp, providing all the supplies for a local contractor to build for free.

Cohen has also inspired people at Buckingham Correctional Center. Walls said a note was put up in their peer support room highlighting Cohen’s journey after they saw him on the news, and that they told her they were finding strength through him.

“They said, ‘We wish to show our support allowing the family and public to recognize even though we are incarcerated prisoners we remain empathetic to the needs of others,'” Walls said. “It was pretty amazing that so many of them did handwritten letters and just to explain that, ‘Keep going little buddy.'”

“I just want to share my gratitude for them. Inmates, they have a heart,” Walls said.

Cohen received several handwritten letters from inmates. The family plans to write back soon.

Since Cohen’s accident, life has looked very different for Walls. She has had to take time off work to juggle caring for her kids while attending doctor’s appointments up to 6 times a week. But she said she is focusing on family time and healing — both physically and mentally.

“Grief isn’t reserved for death alone and I think that’s such a powerful statement to tell the community. The one thing that we show our children is that he can do everything we do. I took him hiking the other day, y’all saw him jumping the lily pads, like he’s going to try everything even if he falls,” Walls said.

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

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.

By Emma Romano , Zitlali Solache

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    PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (WPTV) — A 78-year-old woman was killed Sunday morning after an SUV rolled backward and struck her in a residential driveway in Port St. Lucie, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

The incident happened at approximately 10:47 a.m. at 181 SE El Sito Court. A 2016 Lincoln MKX SUV was parked in a residential driveway when the woman was standing outside the vehicle near the open driver’s door.

The SUV began rolling backward, and the open door struck her, knocking her to the ground. The cause of the rollback remains under investigation.

Her adult son, 59, was in the passenger seat and had started the vehicle.

The woman was rushed to Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where she was pronounced deceased at 11:19 a.m.

WPTV’s Zitlali Solache spoke with neighbors, who knew the woman for several years. They say they’ll remember the simple acts of kindness.

“I saw the ambulance, the fire trucks, and two or three police cars. I felt sad, sad because I’ve down her for many years,” said neighbor Daisy Cardona. “On Sundays, they would bring us bread, cupcakes, donuts, and sometimes cakes that were this big. May she rest in peace and my condolences to her family.”

This is an ongoing investigation. Stay with WPTV for updates.

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By Alex Barber

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    MORGAN COUNTY, Kentucky (WLEX) — Shelva Rowe and her sister Annelle Lord never met their uncle, Bearl E. Jones. But through family stories, they know exactly who he was.

“He was everything. He was the first born son, all his siblings looked up to him,” Rowe said.

That leadership carried over to his military service. Jones served in the Marines and reached the rank of corporal, spending four years in the military, including a tour overseas during the Korean War.

After returning from his service, Jones became ill. He died from health complications at the age of 25.

He is buried in rural Morgan County — and getting to his grave is no easy task.

Off Highway 519, the road goes from asphalt to muddy grass. Rowe and Lord park at the bottom of a steep hill, then push through thorns, fight off ticks, and duck under tree limbs just to reach his grave.

It is a journey they make at least once a year on Memorial Day, when family gathers to clean the graves and honor Jones’ service to his country. For some family members, the hike is simply too much.

“They try to come as much as they can, but they are getting older and they can’t make this walk anymore,” Rowe said.

Without action, nature will eventually take over the cemetery.

“He makes me want to cry. Because it makes me so sad that it’s hard to get up here. We don’t want to not fulfill our promise we made to our grandma and our dad,” Rowe said.

That promise is simple.

“That we wouldn’t forget him,” Rowe said.

Rowe and Lord have set up a GoFundMe, saying they hope to raise the money to repair the road leading to the cemetery. The goal is to make sure their family can always reach Jones’ grave and keep it maintained. But this isn’t just about preserving one memory. It’s about keeping their entire family legacy alive.

“It’s kept him alive, his memory alive and doing so we’re keeping our family love ones alive as well,” Lord said.

Just as Corporal Jones once led his family by example, his nieces are now leading theirs, making sure the family promise never fades.

“He isn’t going to be forgotten. I’m teaching my girls to make sure they carry on this legacy,” Rowe 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.

By Veronica Haynes, Sharman Sacchetti

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Alvin Campbell Jr., the brother of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, has been sentenced to life in prison Monday after he was convicted of raping multiple women while posing as a ride-share driver.

During sentencing, the judge called Campbell’s actions “manipulative and depraved.”

Campbell was found guilty earlier this month of six counts of rape involving six alleged victims, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of indecent assault and battery involving one alleged victim, nine counts of photographing an unsuspecting person in the nude and two counts of assault with intent to rape. The jury deadlocked on one count of rape.

Campbell received a life sentence for one of the rapes, then consecutive sentences on the other charges that totaled another 120 to 140 years in prison. It is unlikely he will ever walk free again.

Statements from three victims were read aloud in court.

“I didn’t know what he knew about me from that night because I couldn’t remember it myself. I was terrified that if I upset him he would come after me, kidnap me or kill me,” prosecutor Erin Murphy read from a written statement.

“He’s a selfish person and has shown no remorse for the pain he has caused myself, his other victims and our family and friends who’ve supported us through this ordeal,” prosecutor Lynn Feigenbaum read from another statement.

Campbell must also register as a sex offender.

Investigators said between 2017 and 2019, Campbell targeted intoxicated women outside bars in Boston, pretending to be an Uber driver before assaulting them. Police said DNA evidence linked him to the crimes.

The charges stemmed from allegations from seven women.

“We’re grateful to the survivors. It’s not easy to come into court, not easy to testify, not easy to subject yourself to cross-examination, at times — hear evidence regarding your case that maybe you didn’t even know about before,” Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said after the verdict.

Andrea Campbell released a statement addressing the case after sentencing.

“Survivors have shown courage in coming forward,” she said. “My heart goes out to my brother, and I will keep him in my prayers.”

She also said she respects the court’s decision.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said it will “determine our action, if any, at a future date” on the deadlocked charge.

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.

By Jacquelyn Quinones

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    CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, California (KSBW) — Carmel-by-the-Sea is officially adopting a standard street address system for the first time in over a century, a change aimed at improving emergency services and simplifying navigation for residents and visitors.

“This is the way I’ve always known it since I’ve lived here, so to have something new is good, I guess, at the end of the day,” resident Ray Depole.

Another longtime resident emphasized the benefits for emergency responders. “It’s much better, obviously the fire and police and ambulances and those kinds of things. It’s much easier if you have a house number to find your house, no doubt about that,” Depole said.

He also noted how the new system will make it easier for guests to locate homes.

“Now you can have people know exactly where you live instead of trying to explain to them how many houses south or east or west of whatever street you’re on,” Depole said.

Alyson De Guigne is a local artist, whose work is displayed throughout Carmel, initially opposed the change.

“At first, when I heard about the addresses, I didn’t like it. I don’t like change, and I thought, ‘This is why I don’t live in New York City or L.A. anymore.’ It’s for community that stands in time and doesn’t change,” De Guigne said.

Since the approval, the artist has been receiving calls to design personalized house number signs. Specializing in acrylic paint and light-resistant colors, she sees an opportunity to preserve the town’s charm through her art.

“I think there is an opportunity to make these new house number signs personal, so I like some of the rules I’ve been reading about. Carmel-by-the-Sea is not going to allow neon number signs. I think that is great. I think creating something in the charm of Carmel-by-the-Sea is important, so something hand-painted, unique, that’s personal to each home will be the way to go,” De Guigne said.

The new addresses are expected to go live as early as next month, but the city’s post office will remain open for residents who prefer to continue receiving their mail there.

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.

By Rachel Whelan

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    NORWOOD, Ohio (WLWT) — For most teenagers, summer means sleeping in and hanging out with friends.

For 14-year-old AJ Velez, it means clocking in.

AJ has spent years working alongside his father, Ty Velez, at the family’s food truck, AJ’s Cheesesteaks, learning everything from handing out orders to working the grill.

But Ty says the biggest lessons were never about cheesesteaks.

“I grew up in an environment that was heavily gang infested,” Ty Velez said. “A lot of my friends either ended up in jail or they ended up in prison.”

Those experiences shaped the way he raised his son.

Ty said he has always tried to teach AJ to care for the people around him and to use opportunities to lift others up whenever he can.

Recently, he saw those lessons come full circle.

AJ approached his dad with a simple request: Could one of his friends spend the summer working alongside them on the food truck?

“I asked him, can he come with us on the truck? Because I didn’t want him to be roaming around in the streets,” AJ said.

Ty said there was never any hesitation.

“It made me emotional because it let me know that I was doing the right thing,” Ty said. “It also let me know maybe I am a good father, and hopefully we can pass this along.”

The friend recently worked his first shift on the truck alongside AJ.

AJ said he hopes the opportunity gives his friend a positive way to spend the summer, and one day, he’d like to do the same for others.

“When my dad passes it on to me, I’m going to hire some of my friends,” AJ said. “I don’t want that for none of them.”

Ty hopes their story encourages parents to have honest conversations with their children and reminds young people that looking out for a friend can be as simple as creating an opportunity.

“We have the uncomfortable talks,” Ty said. “I think it’s important to talk to your kids. I think it’s important to sit down and have conversations with them that they don’t expect you to have.”

For Ty, that one question from his son was proof that those conversations were making a difference.

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.

By Natalia Gomez del Campo

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Yenny Soley grew up in Venezuela before coming to Iowa 11 years ago.

She’s watched as the Venezuelan community in Central Iowa has grown throughout the years and become tight-knit.

“It’s like we are like family after, you know, being in another country so far away from our country,” Soley said.

But that family has been in mourning from seeing the recent devastation through their screens.

“It’s exhausting,” Soley said. “It’s very hard to sleep, concentrate, to work or do anything else. But I’m sure we all are having that feeling right now.”

Soley’s cousin’s 18-year-old daughter, Chantal, had just moved to Caracas a week before tragedy struck. Her building collapsed, and she’s still missing.

Soley still holds onto hope.

“They are still finding people alive. So we still have to hope with her.”

The past few days have been a whirlwind of emotion — with most videos and stories bringing tears to her eyes.

“I see the videos of the tragedy. Then I see the videos of massive people there trying to help,” Soley said. “They’re here in different countries and, you know, give me hope because we are losing so much. But at the same time, we see the humanity of many, not just Venezuelans, but Mexicans, other Americans, everybody.”

Soley asks for a helping hand, no matter how small, through donation or prayer, in helping her community.

“For many people, even though they are alive, they lost everything,” Soley said. “They don’t have even clothes or food or anything.”

For those wanting to help, the Venezuelan community in Central Iowa points to the WeLove Foundation GoFundMe.

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.

By Lisa Crane

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — A Birmingham man said he filed a complaint with the Alabama Veterinary Board after his dog got sick at a Hoover boarding facility and later died. He claims it was a tragedy that could’ve been avoided.

Wilson Archer brought his boxer named Bruno to Pet Paradise on Tattersall Boulevard in late March as he left for a spring break trip. When he returned five days later, he said Bruno was very sick and died within 18 hours.

Before that vacation, Bruno was a happy, healthy 2-and-a-half-year-old boxer. To his owner, he was more like a child than a pet.

Wilson Archer said, “He loved to lick people, the boxer lick.”

After Archer returned from vacation, he picked Bruno up from Pet Paradise. He said at that point Bruno was clearly very ill, and he pointed that out to workers at the facility.

Archer said. “He could barely walk, super lethargic. He was hot to the touch. He smelled like he’d been lying in urine. I said something to them, and they took his temperature, and they told me he was normal, and he was just tired.”

Archer took Bruno to an emergency vet; they sent him to Auburn’s Veterinary Hospital. Bruno died the next day.

Archer said, “The hardest part about everything was coming home after we left Auburn and having to pack his bed.”

According to Bruno’s necropsy report, he died from pneumonia caused by E. coli in his lungs. Archer said if the vet at Pet Paradise had noticed Bruno’s decline, he might be alive today.

“They could have given him some oral antibiotics. We’re never notified. They never called us. They never sought outside vet care, never gave him a vet evaluation,” Archer said.

Archer said he filed a complaint with the Alabama Veterinary Board, which is investigating.

We reached out to Pet Paradise and received this statement:

“We were deeply saddened to learn of Bruno’s passing, and our hearts are with the Archer family during this difficult time.

At Pet Paradise, we take every concern raised by a pet parent seriously. Because this involves an individual pet care, we aren’t able to comment on the specific circumstances or discuss operational details related to Bruno’s stay.

We have cooperated with the appropriate regulatory authorities and remain committed to providing a safe, healthy, and loving environment for every pet entrusted to our care.”

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.

By Kalea Gunderson

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    MONROEVILLE, Pennsylvania (WTAE) — The Monroeville Public Library removed its Pride Month children’s book display following a directive from local officials.

Kelly Meredith, president of the Monroeville Public Library Board of Directors, said a decision was made to remove the library’s Pride Month display after the municipal manager directed library staff to take it down.

“On Friday, I received word from the library that the municipal manager had directed our library director to take down the display in the children’s room,” Meredith said.

The display, which had been in place since June 1, was removed last week despite opposition from Meredith. She said this was not the first time the display faced criticism from Monroeville officials.

Councilmember Bill Krut shared a Facebook post from the library’s children’s room on June 19, questioning the appropriateness of the books.

“Should these books be available for children at the Monroeville Library? I think not. I don’t care what adults do. This is child sexual grooming,” Krut wrote.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to Krut for comment but has not received a response.

Lindsay White, a pastor at Crossroads Presbyterian Church and a parent, expressed her disapproval of Krut’s comments.

“I think that’s incredibly offensive,” White said.

White, who regularly visits the library with her children, voiced her support for the display during last week’s library board meeting.

“We utilize the library every week, and the Pride display is an incredible resource in helping my children learn about the reality of the world that we live in. And we are very supportive of the LGBTQ community,” White said.

Katie Baumgarten, executive director of Monroeville Area Pride and Community Aid, expressed disappointment over the removal of the display, noting the community’s diversity and support for inclusivity.

“People are really shocked and disappointed because after the showing of overwhelming support on Monday, I think most people thought that even if our officials felt the way that they felt, they would see that their constituents did not feel the same way and would not continue to pressure the library. But unfortunately, that’s not what happened,” Baumgarten said.

Meredith explained that the decision to remove the display was made to protect library staff from potential negative impacts.

“There was a lot of pressure, and it was a very difficult decision because we don’t want to set a precedent that says that the council can come in and dictate what displays are appropriate for the library. But we had to do what the library staff felt would keep them safest in this situation,” Meredith said.

She added that the municipal manager and a council member visited the library to ensure the display had been removed.

Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said the request was related to holiday timing.

“I advised that the June Pride Month display in the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library could be removed and replaced with a patriotic America 250 display in advance of the Independence Day holiday and our community celebration,” Graziani said.

Meredith responded, stating that library staff, not public officials, are responsible for determining displays.

Monroeville Mayor Dennis Biondo Jr. said he is investigating the situation and emphasized that libraries should be welcoming spaces free from intimidation and censorship.

“I affirm our community’s values of safety, dignity, and respect for all residents, including the LGBTQIA+ community… Libraries must remain safe, welcoming spaces free from intimidation or censorship, so that all patrons have access to the books and resources they need or wants,” they mayor said in a statement posted online.

Baumgarten, with MAPCA, encouraged residents to attend the next Monroeville Citizen Night at council chambers, scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, at 7 p.m., to voice their opinions.

“I just encourage anybody who feels strongly about that and who lives here or is represented by any of these officials here to show up to the council meeting next Tuesday,” Baumgarten 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.