Woman desperate to find missing engagement ring lost while running NYC Half Marathon

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By WABC Staff

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    NEW YORK (WABC) — A woman who set a personal record running the NYC United Airlines Half Marathon is looking for her engagement ring she lost along the way.

Isabel Lahn-Schroeder, a social worker at Lenox Hill hospital, said she lost her engagement ring along the route, likely somewhere around Central Park South.

She described the ring as having multiple stones in the shape of a flower.

The pride and joy she felt after completing the NYC Half quickly turned to horror when she realized the engagement ring she received on Halloween was missing.

Schroder says she retraced her steps. She went to lost and found and even to the police precinct, but to no avail.

The ring is a family heirloom that had been passed down in her fiancé’s family for generations.

The soon-to-be bride said she has a pretty good idea of where she may have lost the ring.

Now she’s hoping that by putting her story out there, perhaps a good Samaritan will help reconnect her with the precious ring.

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.

71-year-old to run 100 marathons in 100 days across the country for Parkinson’s research

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Toni Yates

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    NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Larry Grogin celebrated his 71st birthday by beginning a run across the country.

What’s even more remarkable is that he’s running a marathon a day for 100 days.

Grogin also suffers from Parkinson’s disease.

“I define my life by way of exercise and overcoming and muscling through things,” Grogin said.

That definition was slightly modified for 71-year-old Dr. Larry Grogin after his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019.

“That dialogue has changed to not muscling through things but learning to live with it and learning how to live your best life with it,” he said.

That means still lacing up and exercising after a lifetime of Ironman competitions and marathons.

‘We ran to the Boston Marathon and then ran the marathon,” Grogin said.

In recent years, Grogin has been running for causes and childhood illnesses.

This time, he’s running 100 marathons in 100 days to fund Parkinson’s research and exercise classes for Parkinson’s patients.

His message is to keep moving.

“I kind of equate it with an old door that gets stuck and if you move it and lubricate it and use it, it flourishes. And Parkinson’s doesn’t have to have the last word. I’m on a mission to encourage people to get up and move and live their best life,” Grogin said.

100 marathons will take him to many states.

All along the way, his loving cohort Linda will drive the team car, chart the course and keep Grogin up to snuff.

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.

Epic Games to lay off more than 1,000 workers, including 211 in Triangle amid Fortnite downturn

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Elaina Athans

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    CARY, North Carolina (WTVD) — Epic Games is cutting more than 1,000 jobs as the company faces a sharp downturn in Fortnite engagement and broader struggles across the gaming industry.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce said 211 Triangle employees will lose their jobs at the Cary location.

CEO Tim Sweeney said in letter to employees that “the layoffs aren’t related to AI,” but that Epic is facing industry-wide challenges.

He apologized for the nationwide layoffs and explained that “the downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025 means we’re spending significantly more than we’re making.”

In addition to layoffs, Epic said it has identified more than $500 million in cost-saving measures across contracting, marketing and unfilled roles.

It’s the latest gaming company to announce cuts.

The developer Red Storm filed a notice last week that it would lay off more than 100 employees from its Cary location.

The company cited “economic forces are the reason for the layoffs.”

NC State’s esports department does some collaborations with Epic.

Director Cody Eisen said gaming is still extremely popular, but there are more options these days and new companies are bringing products to market.

“There’s still a huge demand for it. I think companies are just trying to shift the resources right now with everything evolving,” said Eisen. “There’s a lot of more opportunities where gaming is actually being applied to, like education and use as a tool for learning. I think that’s we’re just seeing a shift of where companies are putting their resources.”

Epic purchased the old Cary Town Center mall a few years back to build a new corporate headquarters; however, last year, plans to rezone were withdrawn because of inactivity.

ABC11 asked Cary officials whether there has been any movement since 2025 to get the project off the ground. A spokesperson says there have been no changes or updates to share.

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2 Good Samaritans hurt trying to stop kidnapping, 4-year-old returned to mother safely

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Alicia Alvarez

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    MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) — A child is safe after law enforcement was able to track down his suspected kidnapper and apprehend him in Castroville, Monday night.

Monterey police officers responded to a reported kidnapping at a motel on North Fremont Avenue on Monday, just after 7 p.m. Multiple 911 calls reported that a man had taken a child in his vehicle and struck two pedestrians while fleeing.

The suspect was identified as Daniel Hutchens from Atwater. The abducted child was Hutchens’s 4-year-old son. Police determined that Hutchens’ ex-wife and their two children were visiting Monterey; Hutchens followed them in a rental car through a motel parking lot.

When the woman parked and exited her car, Hutchens allegedly assaulted her while wearing a mask. Before taking her watch and forcing his way into her vehicle, he took his 4-year-old son and ran to his rental car.

Nearby witnesses attempted to stop Hutchens, who threatened them when they opened his car door. He claimed he had a firearm and would shoot. Hutchens accelerated and hit two witnesses with the open door in the process, according to police.

Both victims who were hit were treated for their injuries at the scene.

Seaside officers attempted to make a traffic stop near Fremont Avenue and Portola Drive. Hutchens fled, prompting a police pursuit. He drove onto Highway 1 and reached speeds over 100 miles per hour. He called 911, making threats that he was armed and would not surrender.

Hutchens later ran away on foot after abandoning the car on Axtell Street near Benson Road.

Castroville residents called 911 just after 10 p.m. to report a man walking with a child near Blevins and Via Linda. Shortly after, a drone spotted the two near North Monterey County Middle School.

Hutchens was taken into custody. The 4-year-old boy was assessed by police and paramedics. He did not suffer significant injuries. He was reunited with his mother.

Hutchens was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of kidnapping, robbery, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon, felony evasion and felony child abuse.

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.

‘Thy Kingdom Crumb’ is feeding those in need in the community

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Amber Grigley

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — A small but mighty blessing, serving those in need in the community. “Thy Kingdom Crumb” serves gourmet meals from a food truck, free of charge.

WRTV’s Amber Grigley spoke with an expert about the importance of having resources like this in the community.

“We have chicken empanadas or chorizo and cheese empanadas. We also have chips and salsa, and then a homemade cookie as well. All of it is gourmet,” Caleb Wuethrich, Outreach Director for Thy Kingdom Crumb, said.

Caleb Wuethrich said, “Thy Kingdom Crumb” does more than curb appetites.

“It’s to remind people that God loves them. It’s to meet people where they’re at, and then we want to connect people with an organization that might have a physical need, and then also we’d love to introduce them back into the community, whether that be a church or another organization that would help,” Wuethrich said.

Tuesday, they partnered with Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF).

“We partnered with them because we understand that 10% of the homeless population are veterans,” Wuethrich said.

A goal of serving 200 people speaks to a larger issue that needs to be addressed.

“Homelessness is an issue that we treat as a crisis every day because we do not believe that people should be living or dying on our streets ever,” Chelsea Haring-Cozzi, CEO with the Coalition for Homeless Intervention Prevention (CHIP), said.

Cozzi said her department is approaching homelessness with a level of urgency and intentionality.

“Making sure that we have housing pathways and services to get more people off the streets and out of shelters into permanent housing,” Cozzi said.

Nearly seven months ago, CHIP launched the “Streets to Home” initiative, an $8.1 Million-Dollar solution Cozzi said is trending in the right direction.

“So far we’ve housed over 114 people directly off of our streets,” said Cossi. “Also closed three encampments and worked in two downtown zones. The promise of Streets to Home is that once we house everyone from an area, then we work to clean, close and maintain that area for its original usage.”

Cozzi said partnering with organizations similar to “Thy Kingdom Crumb” aligns the momentum to respond in a unified way.

“We’re meeting so many people who are hurting and in pain, and we want to come alongside them and walk with them,” Wuethrich said.

“Thy Kingdom Crumb’s” next pop-up will be this Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at the transit center on East Washington.

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 property into home for animals and exotic birds from around the world

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Frank Sulkowski

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    GUYTON, Georgia (WJCL) — Remember that movie, We Bought a Zoo?

The 2011 film starring Matt Damon was based on the memoir by Benjamin Mee. It told the true story of a family that purchased a dilapidated zoo and worked to restore it to its former glory.

Well. An Effingham County family has taken things a step further – building a zoo from scratch and they’re inviting everyone to come take a walk on the wild side.

“When we did our first build, these were just wooden bird cages,” said Shannon Valim. “We now call this Main Street.”

It’s a Main Street where you can hang around with a sloth – chill with a Kookaburra or roll around with the warthogs.

Shannon and Gilvan Valim have taken their love of animals to the next level. The Valim family turning their sprawling property between Guyton and Oliver – into a safe home for hundreds of animals and exotic birds from around the world.

Welcome to Hope Ranch.

“People say a zoo – in Guyton, Georgia, that’s not possible,” said Valim. “We’ve taken things nice and slow. It’s been important to be methodical about everything.”

Many of the animals are donated and others rescued, like Pogo. The Rhesus macaque, just settling in to her new surroundings at Hope Ranch.

“We’ve had it here for just a couple of weeks,” said Valim. “When animals come here, they get blood work done and are in quarantine for several weeks before being moved into their new enclosures.”

Housing and caring for so many furry, four-legged and feathered friends is no easy task.

A small staff and volunteers have helped turn Shannon and Gilvan’s dream into a reality.

Over the years, this once small, private aviary and ranch has been transformed into a full blown zoo.

“We are constantly learning,” said Valim. “We share knowledge with folks and they share with us. We take pride in everything that we do here at Hope Ranch.”

A Grand Opening celebration is set for Saturday, March 28 at Hope Ranch.

In addition to seeing the animals up close, local vendors and food trucks on will on site from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The cost is $20 per person, children 2 and under are free.

Hope Ranch is located at 1381 George Hurst Road in Guyton.

For more on Hope Ranch, visit their website or follow them on social media.

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.

Dodgers’ Japanese stars honored with “Samurai of the Diamond” mural on Torrance hotel

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Rina Nakano

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — It was a race to the finish for artist Robert Vargas as he put the final touches on the world’s largest Dodgers mural honoring the Japanese players who were integral to the team’s ninth World Series title.

After putting the crowning details on his piece, Vargas and the city of Torrance unveiled the “Samurai of the Diamond,” which features the superstar pitchers Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani.

Vargas said his mural had to be in Torrance.

“Seeing heroes that look like us, whether they’re coming from Asia or down south,” Vargas said. “It’s important to show that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.”

Mayor George Chen said about 1 in 10 citizens in Torrance are of Japanese heritage.

“The highest concentration in Japanese Americans in the 48 contiguous states,” he said.

From the farm laborers who arrived at the turn of the last century to the shop owners who settled after World War II internment to the corporations that built their U.S. headquarters in the 1990s, Japanese culture courses through Torrance’s veins.

“Just about every place you go, you’ll see fingerprints of the Japanese culture here,” Chen said.

As soon as Ohtani and Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers, Torrance officially became friendship cities with the players’ hometowns, Oshu and Bizen, in Japan.

They’ve held many cultural exchanges, including youth baseball games coached by Ohtani’s father, Toru Ohtani.

Vargas said he enjoyed the 10 days he spent painting the bumpy wall of the DoubleTree Torrance, calling it a fun challenge.

“It’s been exciting flattening this surface, making this come to life,” he said.

Vargas freehanded the entire piece, refraining from using grids or projections.

“I’ve always had a great sense of space,” he said. “It’s all freehand brushwork. As I’m brushing along, I really kind of just imagine it from my third eye across the street.”

The artist hopes the massive mural inspires locals. Like his Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo, the Samurai of the Diamond has an augmented-reality component. Visitors can scan a QR code and see the players come to life.

Vargas unveiled Ohtani’s mural in 2024, followed by another honoring Fernando Valenzuela in 2025, both years when the Dodgers won the World Series.

He hopes his latest piece brings the team a bit of good luck while they try to become the first franchise in nearly 30 years to win three consecutive titles.

“We’re going for a three-peat and what better way to memorialize that than to paint all three?” Vargas 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.

Woman says husband warned ‘Give me a reason’ before shooting her as son watched

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Nicholas Brooks

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    JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — A Jackson woman said she was hunted, beaten and shot all in front of her 7-year-old son.

Crystal Emery, a mother and amputee with one arm, said the violence escalated suddenly over the weekend when her husband came home intoxicated.

“As I’m standing directly in front of him, asking him what you’re on, he was like, ‘All I need you to do is give me a reason. Give me a reason,'” said Emery.

Emery said she took that statement as a warning sign and made a crucial decision.

“So, my mind was like, ‘Go get your son and just get in your car and go,'” said Emery.

But she said she never made it safely to her car.

“Then he was like, ‘You’re not going anywhere.’ As I’m going this way, he runs off the porch, knocks me to the ground, punching me all over my face and head,” Emery said.

Emery said she was beaten while her 7-year-old son watched in horror.

“My son was like, ‘Duke, please stop hitting my mom. Don’t do my mama like that,'” said Emery.

She said her husband had a gun and took her phone, preventing her from calling for help. Emery and her son finally got into the car, hoping to escape.

But that’s when she said the gunfire began.

16 WAPT News counted four bullet holes that went through her windshield, all while she and her son were inside. The damage is still visible — bullet holes piercing the windshield and even the driver’s seat where Emery was sitting.

Emery was shot in the shoulder.

“He was like, ‘Oh, so now I have to justify why I shot you,'” said Emery.

Her story highlights how quickly domestic violence can escalate. This past weekend in Brandon, a woman was killed by her husband, who then died by suicide. Last year in Yazoo City, a teacher was killed by her ex-partner, who also died by suicide. Both tragic domestic violence cases.

Despite the severity of the incident, 41-year-old Ackland Dukes is currently charged with aggravated domestic violence. Emery said she believes the case should be considered attempted murder.

We did speak with Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones, who said it is highly likely additional charges could be filed once the case is presented to a grand jury.

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.

FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour makes first US stop in Los Angeles

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Julie Sharp

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — The FIFA World Cup Trophy made its first U.S. stop in Los Angeles today as part of its ongoing host-nation tour ahead of the 2026 summer games.

Out of 48 soccer teams, only one will hoist the gold, 13-pound trophy during the winner’s ceremony, ultimately taking home a replica. The 18-karat gold trophy remains in the hands of FIFA.

“The trophy tour is truly when we start integrating with the fans. There is no better way for us to bring fans to be closer to the game and start building their anticipation,” Daria Makhoukova, general manager FIFA World Cup 2026, Coca-Cola Company’s North America Operating Unit, said.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will visit 30 FIFA Member Associations across 75 stops with more than 150 tour days. The tour kicked off in Mexico City on Feb. 26 and will continue through the U.S. until the Canadian leg begins on April 10. Games in Los Angeles will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood

“Seeing her (the trophy) is always a pleasure. It’s definitely something very difficult to explain, what it means,” said Alessandro Del Piero, FIFA 100 member and former player with the Italy national team.

“Football and sports in general represent more than a sport, it’s a way to be connected … we don’t care about religions, races, and other kinds of things, there is only a green pitch. Everybody has the same rules, and we need to fight to achieve the victory.”

Trophy viewing is reserved for fans who pre-registered for the event. Organizers said they expect about 10,000 people at The Coke Studio, at L.A. Live. Other U.S. stops include Las Vegas, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, New York, and more.

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.

Riverside County firefighters and deputy save 4 cats from apartment fire

CNN Newsource on March 25, 2026

By Matthew Rodriguez

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Riverside County firefighters and a deputy saved the lives of four cats during an apartment fire in Jurupa Valley.

The Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department said crews found the cats inside a fire-damaged apartment, three of whom were unconscious and not breathing.

“When I looked under the bed, I found the first one,” Engineer Ray Guillen said. “As soon as I went to grab it, it fell over. So, I knew something was wrong.”

Firefighters rushed the animals outside and tried to resuscitate them as more crews and a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy helped. In a video released by the fire department, first responders tried performing CPR on the cats, with some attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to help the animals regain consciousness.

“We started CPR, started giving them chest compressions,” Deputy Adam Maldonado said. “I know from holding my cats that their hearts beat pretty fast. So, I knew it needed to be pretty deep and pretty fast.”

Other firefighters rushed in with oxygen tanks for the three unconscious cats. With fresh oxygen, the cats opened their eyes, one by one, and regained consciousness.

“We just treated it like we would treat a pediatric patient that was unresponsive and not breathing,” Firefighter Salvador de La Cruz said. “It’s small, press hard and press fast and breathe into them.

After getting some water from the firefighters, the cats perked up and started walking around.

Maldonado, who has four cats himself, and de La Cruz, who was once a proud cat dad, knew that all pets are family.

“They treat them like their kids, we just couldn’t leave them there,” de La Cruz said.

The fire department said crews extinguished the flames within an hour. One person sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalization. The fire destroyed nine apartments in the 3000 block of Emma Street and displaced 14 people.

Firefighters said the American Red Cross will help the displaced residents. The crews requested help from Animal Control to help the cats and take them to facilities for further treatment.

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.