San Francisco jeweler loses hundreds of thousands in devastating burglary

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Andrea Nakano

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — It’s far from a typical smash-and-grab robbery at a Bay Area jewelry store.

A San Francisco jeweler lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of her handmade pieces, along with family heirlooms that have been passed down for generations. A burglar came into Modern Relics in the Richmond District this month and destroyed her life’s work.

Alix Blüh recounts what happened on August 13th when a burglar gutted her store. They destroyed her vintage display cases, swiped the most valuable pieces of jewelry, and took expensive raw materials such as gold and gemstones.

“I’m holding my soul inside my body, and I open up and see this level of destruction to my sacred beautiful shrine of a treasure chest,” Blüh said. “I think at first it was the wind knocked out of me. Then it was wailing and gasping.”

Along with the theft, came the destruction.

“There’s a level of vandalism that doesn’t fit a smash and grab,” she said.

Blüh found a shattered wine bottle and cleaning supplies scattered all around her store.

The biggest mystery for Blüh is how did the thieves know that she kept valuables in her quaint Richmond District neighborhood store. Customers have to make appointments to come in.

“I’ve been here for 20 years and not once advertised that I was jewelry,” she said. “Not once in my windows. It was a mystery what I was doing here.”

Blüh, though, says hitting jewelry stores has gotten more profitable for thieves. When she started 30 years ago, gold was about $250 per ounce. Now she says it can cost over $5,000. She recently visited a pawn shop with an investigator and saw firsthand how easy it is for thieves to make a quick buck.

“Now I know there is a crime ring being supported by chop shops all over the city. Illegal chop shops,” she said. “This woman in the back was cleaning jewelry and melting it. Cleaning gold and there was a Ziploc bag on the floor and I just knew it’s all gold stolen jewelry.”

The sign outside her door says her store will not be open until at least 2027. She says when it does, it will become an art studio for the community. This has been a difficult time for Blüh, but she’s been comforted by the tremendous support she’s received from people all over the world.

“I’m heart-wrenching beyond belief but the outpouring of love and support from the community has absolutely buoyed me with such a profound sense of love and gratitude,” 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.

San Francisco jeweler loses hundreds of thousands in devastating burglary

CNN on August 28, 2026

KPIX

By Andrea Nakano

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — It’s far from a typical smash-and-grab robbery at a Bay Area jewelry store.

A San Francisco jeweler lost hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of her handmade pieces, along with family heirlooms that have been passed down for generations. A burglar came into Modern Relics in the Richmond District this month and destroyed her life’s work.

Alix Blüh recounts what happened on August 13th when a burglar gutted her store. They destroyed her vintage display cases, swiped the most valuable pieces of jewelry, and took expensive raw materials such as gold and gemstones.

“I’m holding my soul inside my body, and I open up and see this level of destruction to my sacred beautiful shrine of a treasure chest,” Blüh said. “I think at first it was the wind knocked out of me. Then it was wailing and gasping.”

Along with the theft, came the destruction.

“There’s a level of vandalism that doesn’t fit a smash and grab,” she said.

Blüh found a shattered wine bottle and cleaning supplies scattered all around her store.

The biggest mystery for Blüh is how did the thieves know that she kept valuables in her quaint Richmond District neighborhood store. Customers have to make appointments to come in.

“I’ve been here for 20 years and not once advertised that I was jewelry,” she said. “Not once in my windows. It was a mystery what I was doing here.”

Blüh, though, says hitting jewelry stores has gotten more profitable for thieves. When she started 30 years ago, gold was about $250 per ounce. Now she says it can cost over $5,000. She recently visited a pawn shop with an investigator and saw firsthand how easy it is for thieves to make a quick buck.

“Now I know there is a crime ring being supported by chop shops all over the city. Illegal chop shops,” she said. “This woman in the back was cleaning jewelry and melting it. Cleaning gold and there was a Ziploc bag on the floor and I just knew it’s all gold stolen jewelry.”

The sign outside her door says her store will not be open until at least 2027. She says when it does, it will become an art studio for the community. This has been a difficult time for Blüh, but she’s been comforted by the tremendous support she’s received from people all over the world.

“I’m heart-wrenching beyond belief but the outpouring of love and support from the community has absolutely buoyed me with such a profound sense of love and gratitude,” 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.

How an L.A. County nonprofit is responding to homelessness among seniors

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Rina Nakano

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Studies show the number of homeless seniors has increased dramatically in the last year, and a Los Angeles County nonprofit is working to reverse that.

David Lugo earned a modest living as a mechanic throughout his life, supporting his mother and disabled sister, but three years ago, the 60-year-old’s kidneys failed.

His health kept deteriorating, and after losing his income from being a caretaker for his disabled sister, he found himself homeless for the first time in his life.

“I never thought I’d be homeless like that, not in a million years,” Lugo said.

After sleeping on a bus bench and a few trips to the hospital, Lugo landed at Holliday’s Helping Hands, or HHH, a network of interim housing facilities started by nurse practitioner Katina Holliday. “All the sites are full to capacity,” Holliday said.

The 2026 LA County homeless count revealed a nearly 14% increase in the number of adults over 55 compared to last year.

That’s a quarter of the 73,000 total homeless population. Holliday says it’s often caused by the death of a spouse, health crisis, fixed incomes and inflation.

“Our senior population they get $1,100 a month. You can’t afford $3,000 with $1,100. The math ain’t mathing,” she said.

Lugo is now staying at HHH recuperative care, a 100-bed interim housing program with on-duty medical staff. Nearly all the beds are occupied by older clients, many of whom worked all of their lives.

“They’re right. I don’t belong here, but I’m here for a reason,” Lugo said.

A University of Pennsylvania study estimates the number of homeless seniors in the U.S. will triple by 2030.

Holliday is brainstorming ways to hopefully reverse the trend. At the Downey facility, there are peer groups, therapies, workshops and they are developing a unique pathway to housing specifically for seniors.

“We really need to get creative on our housing model for them. They don’t necessarily need to be in a nursing home environment or assisted living,” Holliday said.

“Maybe shared living is a way for them where they cannot have to pay as much, it creates a community and I think it’ll increase their lives.”

In the meantime, Lugo hopes to improve his health, practice his faith and one day, return to his modest life. “See if I can get ahead and buy that home that I want,” he 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.

Colorado deputy under investigation after Evergreen High School presentation brings complaints

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Sarah Horbacewicz

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A presentation at a Colorado high school about driving safety is drawing complaints from parents and students who say a Jefferson County deputy used threatening and inappropriate language while speaking to students.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says it has received multiple complaints about the presentation at Evergreen High School and is now conducting an internal investigation. The concerns came after the deputy spoke to students Wednesday about driving safety and what to do if they are pulled over by law enforcement.

According to multiple complaints, the deputy told students that an officer could point a pistol at someone’s face if they acted inappropriately during a traffic stop. The comments upset some students and parents, particularly because EHS experienced a shooting last year.

The JCSO also confirmed that the deputy involved in the presentation escorted students following the shooting at the high school last year.

In an email sent to parents and the EHS community Thursday, the school acknowledged the concerns and said students had been advised to act responsibly if pulled over.

The school also thanked students who quickly brought their concerns to administrators.

“Our team relayed the feedback and the need for a different approach,” the school said in part. “The JCSO presenter adjusted the second presentation.”

In a statement in part, JCSO said, “The emails stated that the deputy was inappropriate and some of his statements were threatening during his presentation. Internal Affairs is investigating these reports, and the deputy is currently on duty.”

The school said information about driving safety is important, but officials also recognize that students have different experiences with safety-related discussions and that sensitive topics need to be handled carefully.

Evergreen High School is seeking feedback from families as it considers how future community presentations should be handled.

The sheriff’s office’s internal investigation remains ongoing.

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.

In Annunciation’s creative arts classroom, 2 candles stay lit as a daily tribute

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Amelia Santaniello

Click here for updates on this story

    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Annunciation Creative Arts Director Kristin Stang says August brings everything back to the surface.

“You can’t help but be transported back to that day and to those moments,” Stang said. “I would say it’s still very raw one year later. And while we’re finding that healing and those moments of joy, holding in our hearts that we all walked through something that no one should ever have to. So it’s a hard mark. It’s a very difficult thing to look back on to that one year ago.”

A mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church on Aug. 27, 2025, killed two students and injured more than a dozen others. Nearly a year later, healing remains ongoing — and is often interrupted by everyday moments that suddenly become triggering.

“Just walking through the grieving process and those hard moments of again, missing two incredible children and the little things that I think take us back to that moment,” Stang said. “I know for, I mean, even the Fourth of July, the sound of fireworks for a number of people was concerning, anything like that.”

She added that every student is moving through that process at their own pace.

“And so we’ve seen the healing steps. It’s a process,” Stang said. “And the kids are all on their own individual place with that process. It’s not going to be an immediate healing. There’s nothing about it that will be immediate, but we’ve seen baby steps, and they are incredibly strong and they can do hard things — and they’re doing those hard things.”

While teachers work to create a safe space for students, Stang says the Annunciation faculty have leaned on one another through the hardest days — no one walking alone.

“I think if one of us was walking it completely alone, it would be incredibly challenging,” she said. “And the fact that we have each other to lean on, it’s pivotal. And when I say I work with some of the best people, I work with some of the best individuals. They’re extraordinary and extraordinary at what they do. And so if there’s ever a moment when one of us feels like we are stuck in the mud, which is what grieving can feel like, you’re lifting that foot out of the mud and you’re trying to find your way. There’s always someone who kind of looks back at you and says, hey, you know, with a look, I get it, I’m there. This is hard.”

Asked what has helped the community find its way back to a sense of normalcy, Stang said there may be no returning to what once was.

“I don’t know if there is normalcy that we can return to,” she said. “We have a new normal. This is part of our story, part of who we will be and who we are. But I think having that love and support from the community is what gives us any sense of security and sense of love, and maybe a step toward normalcy.”

That new normal takes shape in quiet, deliberate ways. In Stang’s classroom, two candles stay permanently lit — a tribute to keep the memory of 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel present.

“If I even remotely miss a moment, the kids are the first to say, ‘We have to light Fletcher’s candle. We have to light Harper’s candle,'” Stang said. “It’s huge in the creative arts classroom, and we maintain the two candles that were part of the Christmas program because they have symbols of what we remember of Fletcher and Harper. I think, obviously for myself, in that space it’s huge. They were and are incredible human beings, and we want to have that.”

As a new school year begins and the community continues to honor Fletcher and Harper, Stang says the lesson going forward is simple, yet powerful.

“Keep taking care of each other,” she said. “Show up for each other, and love harder than you’ve ever loved.”

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.

Volunteers rush to save livestock as flames erupt inside Ross Fire burn zone

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Amelia Mugavero

Click here for updates on this story

    TEXAS (KTVT) — A quiet plume of smoke suddenly became a wall of flames as firefighters rushed to a flare-up on the eastern edge of the Ross Fire burn zone. Within seconds, smoke had erupted into tree-high flames with homes nearby.

The moment offered a glimpse of the challenge firefighters and volunteers are facing as they battle the massive wildfire and its aftermath.

Volunteers rush to save livestock and help Ranchers For the past 48 hours, Garrett Duvall and the Rancher’s Navy have been moving through the burn zone, joining dozens of volunteers and crews trying to save livestock and help ranchers recover.

Their vehicles are packed with animal triage kits filled with supplies to treat injuries and wounds. But Duvall said the work has become much more than saving animals.

“It looks like hell. It’s another world,” he said.

Volunteers are going from ranch to ranch, checking on animals and asking families what they need.

“And sometimes we pull into a ranch and their house is gone,” Duvall said. “And that kind of hits hard.”

The Ross Fire has left widespread damage across North Texas ranchland, where cattle, horses and other livestock have had to be moved to safety. Duvall said some ranchers are now facing another devastating problem, even if they still have surviving animals: the grass they depend on is gone.

“We’re helping a lady right now,” he said. “She’s a sixth-generation rancher. She has some cows left, but she’s lost a lot. There’s no grass left.”

Smokehouse Creek Fire shaped Duvall’s mission Duvall is no stranger to the aftermath of a catastrophic Texas wildfire.

CBS News Texas first met him in 2024 during the historic Smokehouse Creek Fire, which became the largest wildfire in Texas history. The fire burned more than 1 million acres across the Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma. Two people died, and thousands of livestock were lost as ranchers faced massive damage to their land, homes and infrastructure.

That fire also became part of Duvall’s own story of survival.

During the Smokehouse Creek Fire, he rescued a badly burned calf named Ash. The animal became a symbol of hope and healing after surviving the disaster.

Now, two years later, Duvall is watching the next generation grow.

“We know that there’s brighter days ahead,” he said. “Even if some of them are injured, there’s a pretty high chance they’re going to survive. Ash is two years old and she’s doing great. And that kind of gives a little bit of hope for the future.”

For Duvall, that hope is what he wants ranchers facing the devastation of the Ross Fire to hold onto.

Because while thousands of acres remain blackened and the threat from the wildfire is still far from over, he has seen before what can happen after the flames are finally gone.

And he believes brighter days can come again.

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.

Evanston woman reunited with chihuahua after 12 years missing; found in Gary, Indiana

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Marie Saavedra

Click here for updates on this story

    CHICAGO (WBBM) — An Evanston woman was reunited with her dog, who had been missing for nearly 12 years.

Vanessa Antonino last saw her beloved chihuahua Flor more than a decade ago. Antonino aid she was going through a hard time, and it only got worse when she had Flor in her car and the pup ran off.

In the years that followed, she hoped and prayed Flor was safe with a family somewhere. It seems she was – all the way in Gary, Indiana.

Her most recent caretakers had to give her up, so they brought her to a shelter which found Flor’s microchip and, eventually, Antonino’s number.

“When I got the phone call, the first phone call, they’re like, is this Vanessa? I’m like, yes. And they’re like, We have Flor. And I was like, I was thinking back, I was like, Flor? I’m like, I hadn’t heard her name in years!” Antonino said. “I missed years with her, her knowing her brothers, like, her human brothers. They all know about her. When they saw her, they’re like, oh my god, ma. They’re like, our sister is home! Like, yes! Yes!”

“I have looked for her every single day of my life and it’s like just having her home. It’s like, I can’t believe it!” she added.

Antonino said she’s ecstatic to have Flor home. And the reunion was even more moving because, Antonino said, it feels like a gift that Flor is now back to see her in a new and brighter chapter of life.

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 of Fanta Bility, girl killed by police in Pennsylvania in 2021, pushes for more officer training

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Madeleine Wright

Click here for updates on this story

    Philadelphia (KYW) — A grieving family is marking five years since a deadly police shooting outside a high school football game in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, and continuing the push for changes to police firearms training.

The tragic incident occurred on Aug. 27, 2021. Police were responding to a shootout between a 15-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man near a crowded high school football game. Upon hearing the gunfire, three Sharon Hill police officers fired their weapons toward a car they believed was involved.

One of their bullets struck and killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility, who was leaving the game with her family.

“Sometimes I can be very sad if I think about my daughter,” Fanta’s mother, Tenneh Kromah, said.

The three Sharon Hill police officers involved in the shooting, Brian Devaney, Sean Dolan and Devon Smith, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and were sentenced to five years of probation.

Kromah said she wants to make sure another family does not experience the same loss, which is why she’s supporting House Bill 1604, also known as Fanta’s Law.

The legislation would require police officers in Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Lancaster counties to complete quarterly firearms training or face administrative leave.

In addition to mandatory training, officers would have the opportunity to undergo simulation training at least twice per year to better prepare them for on-duty confrontations.

The bill has stalled in Harrisburg since it was first introduced in summer 2024, but supporters announced Thursday it is now scheduled for a vote on the House floor in October.

“I’m so excited to hear … they’re taking care of the law,” Kromah said. “I’m so happy for that.”

The bill would still need to pass the state Senate before it could reach the governor’s desk. State Rep. David Delloso, who is sponsoring the legislation, said the goal is to make sure officers are prepared to use their firearms safely, particularly in chaotic situations.

“No one wants to be in a position where their training isn’t second nature and bad things happen to civilians and communities,” Delloso said.

While Kromah continues to push for changes in police training, she is also working to keep her daughter’s memory alive through the Fanta Bility Foundation, which provides school supplies to children in need.

“I think about my daughter every single day,” Kromah said. “And this law will help protect other families.”

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.

Rooted in Philadelphia area, The Berenstain Bears has a “major media project in the works”

CNN on August 28, 2026

KYW

By Madeleine Wright

Click here for updates on this story

    Philadelphia (KYW) — Since their debut more than six decades ago, The Berenstain Bears have sold hundreds of millions of copies, been translated into dozens of languages and captivated generations of readers around the world.

The creators of The Berenstain Bears, Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain, both grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression.

Their upbringing in a city known for its tight-knit neighborhoods and strong sense of community helped shape the wholesome, family-centered stories that define the series.

“They always say Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and the neighborhoods are all a bunch of families and people and communities,” Mike Berenstain, their son, said. “I think that influenced how we create the characters in the world, the Bear world, that we created.”

Stan and Jan Berenstain launched the series in 1962 with The Big Honey Hunt. What began as a single title has since grown into more than 400 books and counting, with Mike Berenstain now carrying on the family legacy.

“I’m surprised,” Mike Berenstain said, “that people who know, of course, the Berenstain Bears are totally shocked that their origin is Philadelphia. I’m surprised. Very often people I meet who know, of course, the Berenstain Bears, they’re totally shocked that their origin is Philadelphia.”

Today, Mike Berenstain works from his home studio in Ambler, Montgomery County, where he continues to bring Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear, Sister Bear and Honey to life.

That sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country was inspired by the rolling hills and neighborhood life of Solebury Township, Bucks County, where Jan Berenstain had a home studio.

Now a new generation of readers is discovering the Bears.

During a Berenstain Bears story time at Wissahickon Valley Public Library, where more than a dozen children gathered, 2-year-old Gabriel Howell from Ambler already had a favorite.

“The puppy story,” Gabriel said with a smile.

His mother, Victoria Howell, said she and her husband both grew up reading the books and are excited to pass them along.

“The stories of the Berenstain Bears still resonate with children nowadays because they’re lessons that will never go away,” Howell said. “They’re morals that will always stick.”

Mike Berenstain, now 74, said he has no plans to retire. He continues to publish four to six new books each year, keeping the series fresh while staying true to its core values. He believes the series’ success comes from its vivid illustrations, humor and heart.

“It’s the fact that they are very child and family-friendly,” he said. “They’re very helpful both in terms of kids learning to read and also learning values and social life, how to behave.”

He also noted that parents of children with autism often share how the books help their kids better understand social situations and interactions, something he found both surprising and meaningful.

Beyond books, the Berenstain Bears have expanded into television shows, video games and merchandise. Mike Berenstain hinted that something new may soon be on the horizon.

“There is a kind of what you might call a major media project in the works,” he said. “I’m not at liberty to say more about that, but I’m hoping that Bear fans will be pleased with what happens over the next year or so.”

The Bears may live in a treehouse deep in Bear Country, but their roots remain firmly planted in the Philadelphia area.

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.

Rooted in Philadelphia area, The Berenstain Bears has a “major media project in the works”

CNN Newsource on August 28, 2026

By Madeleine Wright

Click here for updates on this story

    Philadelphia (KYW) — Since their debut more than six decades ago, The Berenstain Bears have sold hundreds of millions of copies, been translated into dozens of languages and captivated generations of readers around the world.

The creators of The Berenstain Bears, Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain, both grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression.

Their upbringing in a city known for its tight-knit neighborhoods and strong sense of community helped shape the wholesome, family-centered stories that define the series.

“They always say Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and the neighborhoods are all a bunch of families and people and communities,” Mike Berenstain, their son, said. “I think that influenced how we create the characters in the world, the Bear world, that we created.”

Stan and Jan Berenstain launched the series in 1962 with The Big Honey Hunt. What began as a single title has since grown into more than 400 books and counting, with Mike Berenstain now carrying on the family legacy.

“I’m surprised,” Mike Berenstain said, “that people who know, of course, the Berenstain Bears are totally shocked that their origin is Philadelphia. I’m surprised. Very often people I meet who know, of course, the Berenstain Bears, they’re totally shocked that their origin is Philadelphia.”

Today, Mike Berenstain works from his home studio in Ambler, Montgomery County, where he continues to bring Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear, Sister Bear and Honey to life.

That sunny dirt road deep in Bear Country was inspired by the rolling hills and neighborhood life of Solebury Township, Bucks County, where Jan Berenstain had a home studio.

Now a new generation of readers is discovering the Bears.

During a Berenstain Bears story time at Wissahickon Valley Public Library, where more than a dozen children gathered, 2-year-old Gabriel Howell from Ambler already had a favorite.

“The puppy story,” Gabriel said with a smile.

His mother, Victoria Howell, said she and her husband both grew up reading the books and are excited to pass them along.

“The stories of the Berenstain Bears still resonate with children nowadays because they’re lessons that will never go away,” Howell said. “They’re morals that will always stick.”

Mike Berenstain, now 74, said he has no plans to retire. He continues to publish four to six new books each year, keeping the series fresh while staying true to its core values. He believes the series’ success comes from its vivid illustrations, humor and heart.

“It’s the fact that they are very child and family-friendly,” he said. “They’re very helpful both in terms of kids learning to read and also learning values and social life, how to behave.”

He also noted that parents of children with autism often share how the books help their kids better understand social situations and interactions, something he found both surprising and meaningful.

Beyond books, the Berenstain Bears have expanded into television shows, video games and merchandise. Mike Berenstain hinted that something new may soon be on the horizon.

“There is a kind of what you might call a major media project in the works,” he said. “I’m not at liberty to say more about that, but I’m hoping that Bear fans will be pleased with what happens over the next year or so.”

The Bears may live in a treehouse deep in Bear Country, but their roots remain firmly planted in the Philadelphia area.

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.