Category: CNN Regional

By Norman Seawright

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    NEW ALBANY, Indiana (WLKY) — Bobby and Debbie Wilburn of New Albany say thieves stole and altered checks they dropped at the Elm Street post office, resulting in about $14,000 taken and several other checks still missing.

The Wilburns, who own a construction business, say they dropped more than 20 checks at the post office to pay business expenses and later learned three had been altered and deposited by thieves.

“Today is our anniversary,” Debbie said. “We’re spending it at the bank.”

The couple was first tipped off by an email from their bank, leading them to realize a check was altered.

“We actually still have that check number in our checkbook. So we didn’t even write that check,” Debbie said.

“We’re a small business—nine employees—and it hurts when you get hit like that,” Bobby said.

Debbie said the theft created a series of issues: “We had to close our account, pay $300 to get payroll checks here by Thursday, and pay late fees from everything not reaching where they’re supposed to be going.”

After Debbie posted about the theft on Facebook, other residents reported similar incidents.

“It’s sad you have to go to Facebook to find out that this has been happening to a lot of other people,” Bobby said.

Indiana State Police say they are investigating similar crimes.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service sent a statement:

“USPIS is aware of reports regarding stolen mail from the New Albany Post Office. There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by USPIS out of Indianapolis which covers southern Indiana. USPIS is in contact with local law enforcement who have received reports of the theft and have been instrumental in identifying local victims of this illegal activity.

“Combating mail theft is a priority for USPIS. We are coordinating with the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute criminal enterprises targeting the mail for their illegal activity. If any your viewers have been victims of this crime or have witnessed suspicious activity related to these criminal acts, they can report it to USPIS by calling 1-877-876-2455 or by filing a mail theft complaint online at uspis.gov/report.”

For now, the Wilburns say they will not send their checks through the New Albany post office.

“I just think that everybody needs to know that this is going on down here and, you know, take precaution because, you know, it’s a hassle,” Bobby 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 DeAndria Turner

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Four days after surviving a shooting that killed his twin brother, Ravon Allen says he knows who was responsible and is pleading for justice.

“It hurts for me to think about my brother,” Allen said. “I can’t think about my brother.”

Allen said he and his twin, Remon, were shot Friday inside their Smoketown home after falling asleep.

“We’re all downstairs, playing on the game stuff, and they were getting high,” Allen said. “We fell asleep. Next thing you know, I heard somebody come in, but before I could open my eyes, me and my brother, we got shot up.”

Emergency radio traffic captured the violence.

“Nine gunshots heard from location,” one Broadcastify transmission said.

Allen said he remembers feeling multiple gunshots.

“I really did feel myself getting shot like four or five times,” he said.

He said he survived by playing dead, then forcing himself to regain his vision before calling 911.

“I had to sit down to get my composure together and really talked to God,” Allen said. “I asked God to give me my vision or to help me. … Once I got back together, I called the police.”

Dispatch audio described the scene in the moments after the shooting.

“He’s advising he’s inside and he was shot in his sleep,” one dispatcher said.

Another transmission said: “27-year-old male shot in the head.”

Allen said two other men were inside the home when he and his brother fell asleep. He said he believes they helped let the shooters inside.

“I know one of the guys, both of them had guns at the time, and I know they let someone in,” Allen said. “They let someone in the house to do it.”

As he recovers, Allen said the trauma of losing his twin has been overwhelming.

“Me and him went through any and everything together,” he said. “If I had nobody, it was my brother by my side 24/7.”

He said the image of his brother after the shooting is one he cannot escape.

“Any time I think about my brother, all I can think about is how he was shot, and he was just laying there,” Allen said.

Allen said his family did nothing to deserve what happened.

“We never carried ourself or did anything for this to happen,” he said. “I just want to get justice for my brother.”

He also said a detective showed him a photo of a possible suspect and that he immediately recognized the person.

“As soon as he showed me that first picture, I was like, ‘That was one of the main guys who did it,’” Allen said.

Allen said he remains hospitalized and is struggling physically and emotionally in the aftermath of the shooting.

“I can’t talk to anybody or anything like that at all,” he said. “I just been in the hospital suffering.”

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 Zach Rainey

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    NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina (WYFF) — Officers said a report of a naked man outside a North Charleston, South Carolina, gas station led to a drug arrest on Monday afternoon.

Around 4:15 p.m., an officer with the North Charleston Police Department responded to the Circle K gas station on Rivers Avenue following a call about a man reportedly naked in the nearby bushes.

Upon arrival, the officer found the man in plain view without pants.

The officer instructed the man, identified as 34-year-old Davon Octavious Lawrence, to put on his pants, which were beside him.

While gathering Lawrence’s belongings, the officer found a small bag containing less than a gram of methamphetamine. Lawrence admitted that the bag and one of the IDs inside belonged to him.

Lawrence was charged with possession of methamphetamine and indecent exposure. He was transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center.

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 Terry Stackhouse

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    WATERVILLE, Maine (WMTW) — Nearly four months after the explosion that leveled his home and left him badly injured, Cliff Hannon of Oakland is sharing his story and thanking the many people supporting him.

Hannon is still recovering at a rehab facility in Waterville after surviving the explosion on Thanksgiving.

Holding a tattered photo of his family salvaged from the wreckage, Hannon reflected on his survival.

“It was a miracle that I even survived initially. And then it took some more miracles that I made through the first week,” Hannon said.

The explosion, likely caused by a propane leak according to the state fire marshal’s office, scattered debris throughout the neighborhood.

Despite the destruction, Hannon maintains his sense of humor, saying, “The explosion destroyed two of my neighbors’ homes, and they still like me,” with a laugh.

Hannon continues to heal after being impaled and having two large wounds on his backside, with 50% of his body burned.

“I gently rubbed against something today, and my skin was so tender that I looked down on my hands, bleeding,” he said.

After being sedated for nearly two months at Maine Medical Center, Hannon is now at Lakewood Healthcare Center in Waterville, where he has received numerous letters from friends and acquaintances.

He expressed deep appreciation for the support from neighbors, first responders, medical teams, and everyone who has reached out.

“My first non-family that visited me in Portland, they walked in the door, and I started bawling. It was just, I couldn’t believe where I was. I couldn’t believe I was alive,” Hannon said.

A fundraiser held late last year and a video of attendees offering encouragement particularly moved Hannon.

“One of the nurses comes in. She could tell I was crying, and she says, ‘Are you crying?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m happy.’ I said, ‘I’m just so happy.’ You know, watching the video and listening to the people say, get well and good wishes. You know, I was balling by the time I got through it,” he said.

Hannon isn’t sure when he will be able to leave the rehab facility, but he hopes to return to normal health and community service by Thanksgiving, as he is heavily involved in organizations such as the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club. He also praised his wife, calling her a “hero” throughout the recovery process.

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 Ricky Podgorski, Maria Wilson

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    KEENE, New Hampshire (WMUR) — An employee of a gun store in Keene pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegally possessing a firearm and obstructing a federal gun trafficking investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Doug Mulligan, 80, admitted to warning suspected traffickers by leaving notes on their cars that read, “ATF is watching you.”

According to court documents, the federal investigation involved an operation that transported firearms from New Hampshire to Canada.

Officials said Mulligan is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms. He was previously charged with two counts of receiving a stolen motor vehicle in 1976.

Surveillance footage showed Mulligan had a firearm when he purchased another gun from a customer at American Trikes & Motorsports.

The ATF said Mulligan ignored warnings about working at a gun store and possessing firearms, using his position to get around restrictions and interfere with the investigation.

American Trikes & Motorsports declined to comment.

Mulligan’s sentencing is scheduled for July 7. He could face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Department of Justice said it will continue to prosecute those who enable criminals to access guns or interfere with public safety.

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 Todd Kazakiewich

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    QUINCY, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Running her first Marathon will be a major milestone for 20-year-old Quincy native and Boston College sophomore Grace Connolly, but setting a personal record is not really why she’s running the Boston Marathon.

Her two biggest reasons — and inspirations — are her parents, Brian and Jill.

“My mom was diagnosed in December of 2012 with a rare form of blood cancer known as Multiple Myeloma, and my Dad was diagnosed with large B-cell, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the spring of 2022,” Grace Connolly said.

“I had a stem cell transplant in 2015. Multiple Myeloma has no cure. So I’m on a trial protocol,” said Grace’s mom, Jill Adduci Connolly. “My husband is still a patient in there. He is doing OK, but nonetheless.

Grace’s parents are both patients at Dana Farber, so she knows that the money she raises from her run will make a big impact through the Jimmy Fund.

“100% of the funds raised by the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge Team support the Claudia Adams Barr Program, and innovative basic cancer research at Dana Farber, which is just so important because it funds cancer research at its earliest stage,” said Colleen Fafara, associate director of The Jimmy Fund.

Grace’s grit and determination are plain to see — determination to finish the race on Marathon Monday, and raise money to reach cancer’s finish line.

“So many people have this, like, really difficult experience, but so many people have reached out to me, like, ‘Oh, I lost somebody, my parent, my sister, like, my friend, has cancer,'” Grace said.

Her pursuit has an even greater purpose.

“It’s not just for my parents, for all of them too, because you don’t meet someone who isn’t connected to cancer in some way,” she 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 Metia Carroll & Jasmine Franklin

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — The New Orleans Police Department have taken a suspect into custody, during a SWAT roll in the St. Roch area.

According to police, a man wanted in connection with two shootings and an aggravated assault with a firearm has reportedly barricaded himself inside a home in the 2400 block of North Galvez St.

The SWAT team has arrived at the scene and has blocked off North Galvez to St Roch, St Roch to Miro, Miro to Arts Street and Arts to N Galvez, creating a large square.

New Orleans police have evacuated homes in the area and are asking residents to avoid the area until further notice.

The SWAT roll was declared at 5:24 p.m.

No injuries have been reported and no shots have been fired at this time.

No other information has been provided at this time.

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.