Category: CNN Regional

By Paula Wethington

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    WOODHAVEN, Michigan (WWJ) — A Southeast Michigan judge called out a defendant during a virtual court hearing, saying it looked like she was operating a vehicle while participating in the video conference.

“Am I crazy, or does it not look like you are driving that car?” the judge said.

The hearing took place on Monday in the 33rd District Court in Woodhaven, with Judge Michael K. McNally presiding.

Video conference participation is allowed on a case-by-case basis for court hearings in Michigan. The Zoom video platform shows an array of images of those participating, whether they are in the courtroom or another location.

The case involving the woman in a car was one of multiple cases recorded on the judge’s livestream that day.

When court officials noted on the record that the woman wasn’t signed into the video call at the designated time, McNally issued a declaration by default and began another conversation with the attorney.

A court staffer then interrupted the judge, saying, “I have an iPhone here that I haven’t been able to identify.”

The judge told the person on the iPhone to start the video function on their device and “tell us your name, please.”

The woman stated her name. She said she didn’t know how to virtually enter the hearing room correctly.

McNally again insisted that the woman sign in to the hearing with a video view, which she did. A video conference image shows her seated in a vehicle with a seat belt across her shoulder.

“I just ordered a default judgment,” the judge said as the connection was made.

“You cannot be driving, ma’am,” the judge said, shaking his head, as he looked at the computer screen. “What are you doing? Come on.”

“I am not driving. I’m a passenger in a car,” the woman replied.

The judge insisted he would not be hearing a case during which a participant was driving, or as passengers in cars.”

The woman said she would pull over, then continued to insist she was a passenger.

“I’m sorry. I have an emergency. I’m going out of town for a family member, but I will have my driver pull over. Hang on,” she said.

“What side of the car are you on?” the judge asked.

“I’m on the left-hand side,” she replied.

“How would you be on the left-hand side if you’re a passenger in the front seat? Am I missing something?” McNally asked.

She could be seen looking forward, and also out of the window as the vehicle appeared to be moving, but not directly at the phone screen.

“You know you’re lying to me, right?” the judge said. “Let me see the driver.”

She appeared to sigh. “Hang on one second. … I have to ask their permission.”

“Now,” the judge yelled.

The vehicle stopped. She exited the door as the vehicle appeared to be parked near a business. No one else was shown on her camera.

“You think I’m that stupid?” the judge said. “I’m going to go ahead and enter a default judgment. … You lied to me.”

The judge said his order for a judgment of $1,921.95 will reflect that the defendant was “not available at the time and then was driving a car and telling the court she was not.”

“Have a great day. Thank you,” he said as he ended the hearing.

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 Britt Leoni

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — At Peace Lutheran Church last weekend, a group shined light on a story written long ago.

“He comes into the war looking for excitement, but then in the very first action, his unit is decimated,” said composer Thomas LaVoy.

LaVoy composed “The Witness,” a piece inspired by the Civil War journals of a Union soldier, James Waxler.

Through vocals, keys, and a string quartet, LaVoy and Matt Koller, Artistic Director of “The Mastersingers,” and a descendant of Waxler, tell the honest accounts of war.

There’s moments where the music is meant to sound like war, there’s moments where it creates great tension, and there’s moments where it creates levity.

The piece highlights Waxler’s hope of what it’s like to battle for brotherhood, and his despair in the grim reality.

“I hope that people are able to leave questioning anything. Art should change people. It should make us question who we are. It should make us question our beliefs,” said Koller.

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 Baylee Martin

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    LANCASTER, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster is searching for its oldest living alum as part of a celebration of nearly a century of history.

Sandi Mauer, program manager at the Lancaster Education Foundation, shared that the search began when Harold Shartle Jr. reached out.

“A couple months ago, Mr. Harold Shartle Jr. called the office, and he said, ‘You know, I think I might be one of the oldest alumni from McCaskey,'” Mauer said. She then delved into a McCaskey yearbook from 83 years ago in 1942 to find Shartle’s student photo. Shartle, now 101 years old, still lives in Lancaster and plays golf often.

Mauer noted that another person of the same age as Shartle reached out once they released a newsletter call for the oldest living McCaskey alum. Jeanne Creswell is also 101 years old and graduated in 1942.

Among the alumni from the class of 1938, which was the school’s first graduating class, is Olympic gold medalist Barney Ewell.

Mauer expressed the possibility of finding alumni around 106 years old, saying, “The longevity is just something I can’t even imagine. And to hear their stories of days when they were back in school is just really, really interesting.”

The school plans to honor these distinguished alumni at a banquet in October.

The original library at McCaskey High School remains a testament to its history, with student newspapers from throughout the 20th century and panoramic photos of graduating classes.

Mauer shared a humorous anecdote about the panoramic photos, saying, “Rumor has it that one person would be on the one end, run all the way back behind everyone else, and then hop to the other end and be in the picture twice.”

Mauer said finding the oldest living McCaskey High School grad would be the epitome of McCaskey pride.

“There is nothing like McCaskey pride. They are all over the country, and they connect, and you can’t replicate what the graduates of McCaskey feel for this building,” she said.

The school invites anyone who believes they might be the oldest living McCaskey alum to send an email to the alumni association’s Kathy Arnold at kathylarnold@sdlancaster.org for a chance to be honored at this year’s banquet.

More information can be found at McCaskeyAlumni.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.

By CJ Maclin

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    MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma (KJRH) — A Muskogee County man entered a blind plea in court after his 11-year-old stepdaughter gave birth to his baby.

Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told 2 News DNA testing revealed a 99% certainty that Dustin Walker is the baby’s father.

Walker pleaded guilty to felony sexual abuse of a child under 12 and six felony counts of child neglect. All charges are 85% crimes, meaning once sentenced, Walker must serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 18th.

Court records show the 11-year-old gave birth to a full-term baby at home with no prenatal care or doctor visits during her entire pregnancy.

Walker, the girl’s biological mother, Cherie Walker, and her grandmother, Michelle Justus, maintained that no one in the home knew the child was pregnant. They both face charges.

During a preliminary hearing on Jan. 30, Dustin Walker waived his right to participate. By entering a blind plea, he pleads guilty with no agreement in place with prosecutors. This move hands complete sentencing power over to the judge.

Muskogee County District Attorney Janet Hutson addressed the situation, “This case has been extremely difficult… My hope is that with justice, these children will find a better place.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team 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 Greg Ng

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    LUSBY, Maryland (WBAL) — Two Maryland state troopers are credited with saving a choking infant’s life Saturday.

TFC Taylor Hersh and Cpl. Jonathan Stoltzfus were working on a call for service in Lusby when a mother approached them with a child who was choking, state police said.

“Without hesitation, the troopers immediately began lifesaving measures and were able to clear the infant’s airway,” state police said in a statement. “Their quick actions and training made all the difference, preventing what could have been yet another tragic outcome.”

“All the good training that we have, it just becomes second nature at that point,” Hersh said. “We’re presented with critical situations a lot of times, and from that experience, you kind of just learn to stay calm and just not hesitate.”

“A lot of people look at the state police and think we’re traffic cops. We sit on the highway all day. But what people don’t realize — (in) Southern Maryland specifically — is we do everything. We do everything from going to medical calls to a traffic accident, to dealing with situations like this,” Stoltzfus said.

This comes after a trooper saved another choking infant’s life while working a traffic stop last month.

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 Kate Amara, Jake Shindel

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — A day after an Elon Musk-led venture announced Baltimore was selected to receive a free, underground tunnel, the Ravens backed out.

The news comes after the Ravens Loop was announced as one of 16 finalists — among more than 500 submissions — for The Boring Company’s Tunnel Vision Challenge.

The Baltimore project, named Ravens Loop, will not move forward, according to the Ravens and a post on X from The Boring Company.

“After initial meetings, this project unfortunately will not be moving forward as part of the competition,” the post read.

Last month, the Ravens apparently entered the contest to get a free, one-mile underground tunnel built in Baltimore — similar to the one the company constructed in Las Vegas.

The Ravens said the project’s selection marked “a compelling opportunity,” but said they were backing out of the proposal.

Details regarding the Ravens Loop are scarce. The loop’s location is unknown, as is who actually submitted the proposal.

Sources told WBAL-TV 11 News that the Ravens entered the contest all on their own, without collaborating with or notifying any public official or agency — including Baltimore City.

“Everyone knows I love my football team dearly, but I wholeheartedly support their decision to pull out of this application. Because quite frankly, they couldn’t have done it without my approval or the governor’s approval. I can only speak for myself. It was not something that I would be approving,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott.

The Governor’s Office has not responded to a request for information about the project. The Maryland Stadium Authority and The Boring Company also have yet to respond.

In a statement, Chad Steele, senior vice president of communications for the Ravens, said:

“The Boring Company identified Baltimore as a potential site through its Tunnel Vision Challenge, presenting a possibly compelling opportunity for the region.

“While we appreciate being selected, the concept is only in the exploratory phase and following discussions with public partners, we have determined we will not continue with the process at this time.

“We are grateful for the collaboration and remain supportive of initiatives that drive innovation and investment in Baltimore.”

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 Doug Williams

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A family is heartbroken after a high school football player was shot to death in Brooklyn.

Ka’mardre Coleman was killed Monday, less than a week before his 17th birthday.

A 16-year-old suspect was charged and arraigned in court Wednesday. Authorities said the two were football teammates at Sheepshead Bay High School.

Both sides of attorneys agree that the shooting was accidental in nature, the result of a group of four teenagers passing around a gun, unloading and loading it, for fun.

Prosecutors said the gun belonged to the suspect, who tried to save his friend but fled the scene when he couldn’t.

The suspect, who is not being named at this time due to his age, has been charged with manslaughter in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

“He’s a kid who’s never been in trouble before, who’s gonna have to live with the fact that … one of his close friends and teammate is never coming back,” defense attorney Kenneth Montgomery said.

A small memorial now stands outside the home Coleman shared with his mother and his sister, Julani Bannister.

Bannister said her brother was her best friend.

“It was me and him. Now it’s me,” she said. “A lot of siblings don’t get that. A lot of older siblings don’t get their little siblings coming to them like, jeez, this happened, jeez, I just did this. I’m gonna miss that.”

She described her brother as a hard worker and great athlete who was doing everything right.

“He was excited to be 17. Excited to become this grown man. Excited. A y’all took that,” Bannister said. “Y’all took that, and I’m mad I wasn’t there. I’m mad. And I’m sorry, Ka’mardre. I’m sorry, Ka’mardre, because I know I vouched to protect you.”

“We want justice for Ka’mardre, alright? That’s all I’m asking for is justice for my nephew, OK? He did not deserve this,” said Nikia Hayden, the victim’s aunt.

The family is holding a vigil at 6 p.m. Friday at Sheepshead Bay High School.

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By Dave Carlin

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — Rapper Megan Thee Stallion made her Broadway debut Tuesday night, adding some of her own big hits to “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.”

Fans are calling it inspired casting and a triumph, and her joining the cast appears to be adding a boost to the box office.

She gave fans everything they could ask for playing Zidler, who, up until now, was always played by a man. She brought her signature energy and star power, and treats each audience to a rousing medley of three of her own hits during curtain call.

The 31-year-old hitmaker shared glimpses of what’s going on backstage on her social media.

“I’m so excited. I mean, once I heard she was going to be in ‘Moulin Rouge,’ I booked my ticket,” theater-goer Marcia Jones said.

“I’m definitely a fan of Megan Thee Stallion. In my heyday, I’d like to think I was a Megan Thee Stallion,” joked Patty Wilkerson.

“This one we’re definitely going to hit no matter what,” theater-goer Coreena Franklin said.

Megan Thee Stallion remains very busy, working on a new album during her run with the show.

She’ll appear in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” through May 17.

The show opened in 2019 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

The final performance for the show’s Broadway run is set for July 26.

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 Marcus McIntosh

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — Parents and students are still processing the shock after Tuesday afternoon’s incident at an Ankeny school, which brought a heavy emergency response and left more than a dozen children injured.

A car jumped the curb in the pickup line at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish and School in Ankeny, sending 15 students to the hospital, including nine by ambulance.

Parent Charisse Gardiner said it was “pretty wild” to see so many emergency vehicles gathered in one place as families tried to understand what had happened.

Gardiner said her children — who are in first, third and fifth grades — were nearly home when the incident unfolded.

Once she learned her own children were safe, she said her relief was mixed with heartbreak for the injured students, many of whom are friends and classmates of her children.

“We’ve just been saying a lot of prayers for them, hoping that they recover quickly and that they’re not hurt too bad,” Gardiner said. “We’re just keeping them in our thoughts, really just praying for them.”

Her oldest son, Callin Gardiner, said students are already trying to support those who were hurt.

“Some people are making some cards for them,” he said. “And then everyone believes that they can get healthy fast.”

A child mental health counselor with Orchard Place said the emotional effects will likely extend beyond the students who were physically injured.

“Trauma, unfortunately, can have a lasting impact,” Allison Rawls said. “But a short-term trauma, like a one-off experience, there is a lot of hope for kids to be able to process and overcome it.”

She said parents should watch closely for changes in their children, especially among students who witnessed what happened or know those who were injured.

Children need to feel “safe and secure and supported,” she said, and parents should have honest conversations that validate their emotions, because frightening events can bring “really big feelings for small children to feel.”

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 Chelsea Jones

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — A South Florida car business is feeling the direct impact of a growing global conflict after dozens of its vehicles were damaged in a missile strike in Dubai.

New images out of the region show destruction tied to escalating tensions involving Iran, and for one Miami Lakes-based company, the fallout is both immediate and costly.

Abe Chamoun, founder of CAS Auto, says 52 brand-new Nissan vehicles sitting on a lot in Dubai were damaged after a missile landed nearby.

“We happen to have inventory in Dubai. A missile landed nearby and damaged 52 brand new Nissans,” Chamoun said.

Those vehicles were ready to be sold but are now considered a total loss, with damages estimated at around $370,000. However, Chamoun says the strike is just one piece of a much larger problem.

His company operates globally, buying excess inventory from manufacturers and distributors and storing vehicles at ports around the world — including Panama, South Africa, Belgium, Dubai and the United States — before selling to car rental companies and fleet operators.

“We buy overstock from distributors and manufacturers globally and we keep it at different ports around the world… and then we trade it,” he explained.

Now, ongoing disruptions tied to the conflict are making that model increasingly difficult. Chamoun says shipping costs have surged, and insurance rates have skyrocketed.

“The cost of shipping is way up, the marine insurance has doubled, quadrupled. So, it does affect the final cost to our customers,” he said.

A major factor: the continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. The waterway, which typically handles about 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply, has been largely closed for more than three weeks, leaving containers stranded and forcing companies to scramble.

For Chamoun, that means rerouting inventory and rethinking logistics in real time. “We have inventory now that we were planning to sell to South America, vehicles that were going to Dubai, now we have to route them to believe it or not, Sri Lanka,” he said.

With operations in Dubai currently on hold, Chamoun says flexibility is key. “I’ve been doing this for 42 years… it’s not going to stop us or slow us down,” he said.

President Donald Trump said peace talks with Tehran have been productive after warning of possible strikes if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Iranian officials have denied active negotiations but say they are reviewing proposals from the United States.

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.