Category: CNN Regional

By Mark Quirk

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    PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) — A Portland police detective has been recognized by the Republic of Korea for helping solve an 11-year-old cold case involving the death of a South Korean citizen in Portland.

Detective Andjelko Napijalo received a Letter of Appreciation this week during a ceremony at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York. Consul General Kim Sang-ho presented the award, recognizing Napijalo’s work in resolving the case after it had remained unsolved for more than a decade.

According to Portland Police, Napijalo’s investigation brought long-awaited answers to the victim’s family. Letters from the family thanking the detective were also read during the ceremony.

“This recognition is a testament to Detective Napijalo’s determination and the unwavering commitment of our detectives to seek justice for victims, regardless of how much time has passed,” Portland Police Chief Mark Dubois said in a statement.

Kim said the case highlights the success of international cooperation between U.S. and South Korean agencies, including the Portland Police Department, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korean Consulate General in New York, and the Korean National Police Agency.

Detective Lt. Nick Goodman, who attended the ceremony with Napijalo and his wife, Sanela, praised the detective’s persistence.

“Andjelko embodies the qualities of an exceptional investigator,” Goodman said.

The case was previously announced by Portland police on June 2, when investigators identified a woman found dead in Portland in 2015, bringing the investigation to a close.

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 Kirk Enstrom

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    MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (WMUR) — Two New Hampshire students have withdrawn their lawsuit challenging the state law banning transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams.

Attorneys said the teenagers and their parents voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding similar laws in other states.

New Hampshire’s law was passed in 2024. It requires student-athletes to play on the teams that match the sex listed on the birth certificate issued at or near their time of birth.

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 Luana Munoz, Hayley Crombleholme

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    OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Marie Carenan and Ronald Pack, a couple accused of running 11 unlicensed living facilities across Polk and Osceola counties under the name “Cherish Home Care,” and “Cherish Independent Living Care,” appeared in court Thursday.

Witnesses, including two detectives, a caregiver who also lived at the facilities, and a man whose father died while in one of the facility’s care, testified about the conditions and alleged abuse. Detectives said five people have died that had been in the couple’s care, with four deaths occurring since the investigation began last year.

A defense attorney representing Carenan said in closing arguments that the deaths were not the matter the court was dealing with.

“Death certificates note that it’s natural causes. We’re not here for any type of murder investigation your honor,” Lizet Dominguez said.

The facilities reportedly housed 12 to 15 residents in three- to five-bedroom homes. Witnesses described padlocks on doors, windows, pantries, and refrigerators. They also said the homes smelled of urine and feces, and caregivers were not allowed to call 911 directly, instead being required to contact Ronald or Marie first.

One detective testified that a worker tased two residents using a taser provided by Ronald. Mandy Largent, who started as a resident and later became a caregiver, testified that Ronald asked for her bank account and financial information, which she refused to provide. She also alleged there was little food, no toilet paper, and that residents resorted to using socks and underwear to clean themselves after using the bathroom. Largent recounted an incident where a woman experiencing a mental health episode stabbed herself in the head with a needle, and despite the open wound, Marie allegedly denied her medical care.

The prosecution said, “Unlicensed or not, people were abused.”

Text messages between Ronald and Marie were presented in court, including one where Ronald allegedly said he did not want to go to jail. Other messages showed workers informing the couple about the poor conditions, with some messages reportedly going unanswered. The residents were described as elderly, some disabled, and even bedridden.

The prosecution argued that the couple posed a threat to society, while the defense countered that much of the testimony was hearsay and noted that some victims died after leaving the couple’s care. The defense also argued that the state failed to meet the burden of proof, but the judge disagreed, denying bond on two counts.

The couple has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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By Morrissey Walsh

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    GLEN ROCK, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Volunteers from Castaway Critters rescued several cats and kittens from what they described as a hoarding situation in York County, entering the home in hazmat suits and respirators because of the conditions inside.

Rescue responds to horrific conditions in Glen Rock home “It’s a hell house,” said Jessica Walton, operations manager of Castaway Critters Animal Rescue. Walton described the conditions in the home as some of the worst she’s ever seen.

The faces of kittens and cats were poking out the windows of a home in Glen Rock. A neighbor saying she sounded the alarm about the conditions in the house.

“They’re helpless. I just see them in the window looking out, and I couldn’t just keep watching,” said Stacy Guess, a neighbor.

Volunteers said the conditions inside the home are deplorable, with the smell so overwhelming that even with hazmat suits and respirators, they could not stay inside for long.

“Especially when it’s warm or windy out, the smell gets overwhelming. It’s really hard. We can’t have our windows open. It’s been like that for years,” Guess said.

Rescue effort faces major challenges Guess explained that the home’s owner moved to a nursing home, and the situation has worsened since then. Castaway Critters believes the cats in the house have not had human contact for months.

“You have cats there, so feral they are jumping off the walls. So you can’t just grab them. And when you can grab what you can grab, you have to be careful because you can get bitten, scratched, a number of things could happen,” Walton said.

The rescue removed several cats and kittens from the home on Wednesday and estimates that at least 13 remain, ranging in age from just one or two days old to 10 years old.

“If you can understand that you’re in a house, it smells terrible. You’re gas-masked up. You know there’s no light and you’re down there digging for day-old babies,” Walton said.

Support requested as rescue continues Walton asked for patience and kindness as the rescue works to safely remove all the cats and provide them with the care they need.

“We’re going to rewrite their endings, and we’re going to make sure that we can offer support in the community that if you are struggling, you can reach out to us and we will help you,” Walton said.

The SPCA released a statement saying they had been working with the homeowner’s family to coordinate the intake of the animals when community members became aware of the situation and contacted local officials. Another rescue organization then became involved and took possession of several cats. The SPCA said they remain in contact with the family and will assist with any remaining animals in the 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.

By Michael Chen

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     SAN DIEGO, California (KGTV) — A Mission Beach woman is recounting how a beach getaway in Mexico ended in her being shot in a carjacking attempt while driving home.

For the past 6 months, Cassandra Light and her 2-year-old golden retriever Ellie had taken monthly weekend getaways to Rosarito to recharge. During the last trip, the drive home ended with gunshots.

Light, a Mission Beach resident who works as a life coach, was driving her Mercedes SUV back from Rosarito on a Monday afternoon in mid-June with Ellie in the back seat.

She was on a busy road in the eastern part of Tijuana when she approached a highway on-ramp.

“Black car, pulling out so fast in front of me … slides sideways and blocks me from taking the ramp onto the highway,” Light said.

Moments later, a masked man approached her vehicle.

“Came from the left, someone banging on my window so loudly … Masked up, hat on. All I could see was his eyes,” Light said.

Light says she sat there, frozen. The man raised a gun and fired.

“Raised gun up and fired. I leaned back instinctually. It blew through the driver window and out the passenger door,” Light said.

Light believes she heard the man yelling at her to get out of the car. That’s when he fired again.

“My ears just ringing so, so loudly … Somehow I got out of seatbelt. That’s when he grabbed me and threw me into the street,” Light said.

On the ground, Light looked up to see Ellie poking her head out from the back seat.

“That was most terrifying moment I think I’ve ever experienced. Just screaming, ‘Don’t take my dog! … I try to run to the car, then collapse on the ground. That’s when I realized I had been shot,” Light said. “When I look down, I see bones and blood.”

Losing a lot of blood, Light says she may have started to black out — but remembers Ellie appearing at her side, followed by two good Samaritans. Light is not sure how Ellie got out of the car, which had not been taken. It’s possible police sirens scared off the shooter, along with the vehicle. Police have not made any arrests.

Light suffered a shattered tibia and fibula and underwent a total of 4 surgeries — the first in Tijuana before she was transferred to a San Diego hospital.

Facing a long recovery, Light says her best friend is getting her through it.

“She’s getting me through the whole thing!” Light said. “I hope I have a positive perspective … It’s just hard right now.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Light with medical and other expenses, including costs to certify Ellie as a therapy dog to visit hospitals.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGTV’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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By Cameron Polom

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    GILBERT, Arizona (KNXV) — A 14-year-old Gilbert boy is being recognized by the Gilbert Fire Department and the Air National Guard after he stopped to help an elderly woman with dementia who had wandered miles from home in extreme heat.

Royal Cothrun was riding his bike when he spotted the 75-year-old Theresa Morgan, who appeared confused and distressed. He moved her into the shade, contacted her family, and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

The woman had wandered miles from her home in roughly 103º heat.

Her son said he believes Royal’s actions may have saved her life.

Royal was wearing recording sunglasses during the ride, capturing portions of the encounter as it unfolded.

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 Danny Mata

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    PUEBLO, Colorado (KRDO) — The CSU-Pueblo campus has transformed into a temporary base camp, dubbed “Firefighter City,” providing essential facilities for crews battling a large and challenging fire. Firefighters are making progress on containing the blaze, aided by recent rain and national reinforcements.

This makeshift community serves as a critical operational hub, offering weary firefighters a place to eat and sleep, sometimes for as little as five hours, before returning to the fire lines.

These fire camps typically emerge wherever massive wildfires necessitate extensive ground operations, becoming a vital support system for the crews.

Jason Forthofer, with the National Forest Service in Montana, described the demanding schedule of battling the blaze. “I’m working night shift, so that’s always a little rough as a firefighter. To transition, try to sleep during the days,” Forthofer said. He added that the campus provides good sleeping arrangements, “I’m in a dorm with three other firefighters that I’m working with.”

Other firefighters have alternative accommodations. Crew Boss Esteban Tapia, from Washington, expressed his comfort with the outdoor setup. “Oh, we’re in a tent. It’s great man! I love the outdoors,” Tapia said. He emphasized the strong bonds formed within the crews, stating, “Out here, we consider each other family, so we’re a big family. Just camping in a big area.”

Al Nash, from the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team, highlighted the unique sense of community that develops in these temporary camps. “There’s a camaraderie that exists in a fire camp,” Nash said. He compared the setup to building a small city, providing essential services such as catering and showers, a sentiment often understood by firefighting veterans.

The fire itself has presented significant challenges to the crews on the ground. Tapia noted the erratic behavior of the blaze, saying, “You would get days where it just wouldn’t do anything. Then you would get a day where you would just get a 30-mile-per-hour wind. It would just push that fire. It would move fast.”

Forthofer described the fire’s growth as unpredictable. “This one seems to be kind of an amoeba, just growing around everywhere out there,” Forthofer said.

Despite the difficulties, firefighters are reporting advancements in containment efforts. Forthofer confirmed that the combination of recent rain and the arrival of national reinforcements is contributing to their progress.

“We weren’t quite sure if we were going to be able to stop fire from getting into some of the communities,” Forthofer said. “But, at least in some of the areas that I’ve been working in, out there, we are starting to get a hold on pieces of it.”

There are over 1,700 firefighters helping battle the Aspen Acres Fire, representing 29 states.

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