Category: CNN Regional

By Adam Duxter

Click here for updates on this story

    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Police in Minneapolis are trying to set the record straight after five people found dead in six days have fueled online speculation about an outside actor.

As of Friday, authorities and families of three of the victims have shared publicly that their deaths came as a result of battles with mental health.

David Goehl-Manolis, a suicide prevention coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota, said in response to the deaths, “Really, sadness. It also confirms a fact that most people don’t know.”

It’s further evidence of a saddening trend of spiking instances of self-harm during the late summer months.

“Help is available,” Goehl-Manolis said. “Too many people, when they’re struggling emotionally, keep it inside.”

He later said, “It’s important to put the record straight. Every suicide death is a tragedy. It’s not helpful for anyone to start to spread rumors and take guesses about the means that was used.”

He says if you or someone you know is struggling, call 988, a 24-hour confidential hotline.

Goehl-Manolis added that before fueling speculation online, people should consider that the loved ones of those who died could see their posts.

“I really encourage people to emphasize the way that someone lived their life and less on the way they died,” he said.

Two deaths remain under investigation, including a badly decomposed body found in the waters of Bde Mka Ska. Police said they have no reason to believe any of the cases are connected.

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 Sabrina Franza

Click here for updates on this story

    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Questions are mounting over how NIPSCO has managed outside crews brought in to help restore power to Northwest Indiana communities that have now gone nearly two weeks without electricity.

CBS News Chicago cameras caught contracted linemen sitting unassigned in a church parking lot in Griffith for hours, unable to work until they received direction from NIPSCO. When asked why, NIPSCO did not answer the specific questions — only saying crews are working around the clock.

Griffith Police Chief Al Tharp said the delay was not the workers’ fault.

“We’ve had multiple linemen standing around at this location all morning that don’t have work orders from NIPSCO,” Tharp said. “It’s not the workers’ fault. It’s the organizational leadership’s fault that there’s no clear-cut plan or direction giving our citizens power back.”

Outside contractors have been brought in from Florida and Kentucky, similar to crews spotted working in Gary and Munster in recent days. Indiana Department of Corrections inmates have also been deployed to help remove debris.

Despite the outside help, progress has been slow. Live wires remain exposed and debris continues to litter the ground across the area — an issue previously documented in other communities as residents wait for utility crews to clear hazards before neighborhood power can be restored.

Rick Ryfa, town council president of Griffith, said frustration has reached a breaking point.

“Everyone’s reaching a boiling point and the biggest finger to point at is NIPSCO because it’s a shame they’ve just mismanaged this project,” Ryfa said.

Griffith officials took matters into their own hands, conducting damage assessments themselves rather than waiting on NIPSCO to do so.

“Apparently wasn’t getting done otherwise,” Ryfa said. “Work’s not getting done. People aren’t getting connected so we decided to do the assessment ourselves.”

Munster 5th Ward Town Councilor Jonathan Petersen traveled to Griffith to gather information directly, saying his own community is still waiting on answers and resources.

“That’s part of the reason why I’m in Griffith — I have to go in and get information,” Petersen said.

Petersen said Munster is also hoping to bring Indiana Department of Corrections crews into the community to help clear tree limbs and trunks from alleyways while residents wait for NIPSCO to restore service.

Residents are also raising concerns about cost — specifically, whether the expense of contracted outside crews could ultimately drive up their utility rates. That question comes as a class-action lawsuit filed this week accuses NIPSCO of neglecting vegetation management despite charging the highest electric rates of any utility in the state.

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 WLEX Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    WALTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — A Boone County man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he was captured on video abusing his infant daughter and later admitted to suffocating his young son on several occasions.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a report of physical child abuse on Aug. 21 involving a 3-month-old girl. Authorities said an out-of-state family member provided investigators with in-home video showing multiple alleged instances of abuse.

According to the sheriff’s office, 36-year-old Shaun Webb of Walton was charged with 10 counts of criminal abuse, a Class B felony.

Investigators said the incidents occurred Aug. 19 inside Webb’s home. Video footage allegedly shows Webb open-hand slapping his infant daughter in the face while she lay crying on the living room floor.

Authorities also said the footage shows Webb lifting the infant by the back of her head and covering her face for about 19 seconds while her legs flailed. Deputies said Webb was also seen placing his hand over the child’s face multiple times, with each incident lasting between 10 and 13 seconds.

According to investigators, Webb’s 2-year-old son was present during the incidents involving the infant.

During an interview with detectives, Webb admitted to suffocating his son on four occasions before the child was 9 months old, according to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators said Webb told them children are “like a dog, you have to train them and set boundaries.”

When asked about his daughter’s crying, authorities said Webb stated it “triggers me, like nails on a chalkboard” and said he covered her mouth and nose “not to cause harm, but to deprive her of oxygen.”

Deputies said Webb described the actions as an attempt to “train the behavior.”

Following the interview, Webb was arrested and lodged in the Boone County Jail.

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 Carlee Hogsten

Click here for updates on this story

    JESSAMINE COUNTY, Kentucky (WLEX) — Four World War II veterans are celebrating milestone birthdays this year, and Wilmore leaders are asking the community to help honor them with birthday cards.

Thomson-Hood Veterans Center and Wilmore Mayor Harold Rainwater are collecting cards for the veterans — with a goal of collecting enough to match each veteran’s age. Cards can be sent to Wilmore City Hall at 210 South Lexington Avenue, Wilmore, KY 40390.

“It’s very important to hear their stories. It’s important to honor them. It’s important that they feel appreciated,” Rainwater said.

With only about 500 World War II veterans remaining in Kentucky, each one holds special significance.

“There’s so few of them, and I think there’s still nine in this facility,” Rainwater said.

The first veteran celebrating a 100th birthday is Glenn Cummins, who served in the Philippines during World War II and later as a paratrooper in Japan.

“I stayed there a year. Where the temperature is 110, and it’s misery,” Cummins said.

Vincent Gualliardo is turning 101. He served four years in the Navy and was sent to Japan after the war.

“The secrets of life is, well, you always try to help the other person,” Gualliardo said.

Ronald Grimes is also turning 100. He volunteered for the Army, knowing he would likely be drafted anyway.

“Well, they were taking everybody if they could breathe,” Grimes said.

While Cummins, Gualliardo and Grimes live at Thomson-Hood, the celebration also extends to Corbin, where 103-year-old Paul Jones is also waiting for cards.

Sam Hutchinson, administrator at Thomson-Hood, said cards will be distributed to each veteran on their birthday.

“Send it to the Wilmore City Hall, and we’re going to disperse those to each veteran on their 100th birthday to make sure that they know that the country still remembers them,” Hutchinson 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 Hannah Hilyard

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Eight Milwaukee-area veterans got the trip of a lifetime in a World War II-era biplane Thusday, thanks to the nonprofit Dream Flights.

One of those veterans: 87-year-old Wisconsin native and Army veteran Bernie Huizenga.

“I’ve been in small planes but never a biplane, never an open cockpit,” he told WISN 12 News. “I’m excited about it, quite interested in seeing this.”

The flight was organized by Dream Flights, a national nonprofit that provides free flights in military planes to veterans as a way to say thank you for their service.

Darryl Fisher, founder, president, and pilot of Dream Flights, described the emotional impact these flights have on veterans.

“Right before your eyes, you’ll see somebody go up at 85 or 90, and then in spirit, they’re in their twenties. It somehow invigorates them and gives them energy that they didn’t have before. And it’s just a beautiful thing,” Fisher said.

Fisher started Dream Flights in 2011, with Milwaukee-based Direct Supply providing the nonprofit’s initial funding.

“This really connects what we believe in, which is not only improving lives of America’s seniors but also getting out in the community and partnering with our customers,” said Matthew Koch of Direct Supply.

Since then, Dream Flights has provided more than 8,500 flights to veterans across the country.

“It never gets old. I have to pinch myself every morning when I get out of bed. I actually get to do this,” Fisher said.

Huizenga was the first veteran to take flight Thursday.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’m really pleased to, honored to be chosen for this,” Huizenga said.

His smile after the flight said it all.

Dream Flights operates six planes and has nearly 20 pilots offering this opportunity nationwide.

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 Addison Kliewer

Click here for updates on this story

    CADDO COUNTY (KOCO) — Crews across the state worked to extinguish grass fires on Thursday, including a wildfire in Caddo County that burned hundreds of acres.

Gracemont fire A fire originated east of County Street 2690 and north of County Road 1290, and the fire progressed north and east. There were some structures near County Road 1270 that were threatened, but firefighters contained the flames.

Anadarko Fire/EMS said the initial estimate is that around 900 acres burned.

The city manager said this was in Gracemont’s fire district, but Anadarko fire officials helped fight the fire.

Sky 5 was over the scene, where massive flames were seen coming from the rural area.

The flames were moving toward a wooded area, making it difficult to put out the fire.

The fire was near the site of a massive wildfire that burned four homes just days ago in Anadarko.

Payne County fire About 40 acres of land burned after a grass fire broke out in the area of 104th Street and Karsten Creek. Multiple agencies responded to the fire and were able to contain the flames.

No structures were involved in the fire, according to the Payne County emergency manager.

As of 5:30 p.m., crews were extinguishing hotspots in the area.

NE 63rd Street fire A grass fire spread to a shed on Thursday afternoon, destroying the building. The fire sparked near Northeast 63rd Street and Jericho in Oklahoma City.

No one was injured in the fire, according to the Oklahoma City Fire Department

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.