Category: CNN Regional

By Karin Johnson

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    MASON, Ohio (WLWT) — A 21-year-old Mason man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to a felony charge of illegally transporting explosive materials.

James Phillips, 21, was arrested in April by the FBI after agents executed search warrants at his parents’ home on Sentinel Oak Drive in Mason as well as locations in Oxford and Liberty Township.

Investigators said at the time that Phillips spent 13 months building explosive devices in a shed behind the home and then transported them to parks, including the Lebanon soccer complex, to detonate them.

Phillips’ attorney, Scott Croswell, has maintained that this was a hobby for Phillips, who had an interest in chemistry, influenced by his chemist parents.

“Look, a condition of his plea is that he not engage in this type of conduct or even possess the type of chemicals that were used in this. I mean, he’s a young kid, this has been a traumatic thing for him. He’s learned his lesson. I don’t think anyone has to worry about. And frankly, I think if the government felt that there was any likelihood of him repeat misconduct, they would not have entered into the plea today,” Croswell said.

For those in the Mason community who had concerns, Croswell assured, “I think the probabilities of him engaging in this type of conduct, again, is virtually nonexistent.”

Phillips was not formally sentenced Wednesday, but both sides discussed a sentenced they agreed, which would include three years probation and 100 hours of community service cleaning up the park in Lebanon. A sentencing date has not been set.

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By Esme Murphy, Jason Rantala

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    SAVAGE, Minnesota (WCCO) — Police in Savage, Minnesota, are investigating after an infant died at a day care facility on Monday.

According to police, the child died at the Rocking Horse Ranch Childcare facility.

Families of children who attend the facility are asked to monitor their kids and seek medical care if they “exhibit altered mental status, unusual behavioral changes, or other concerning symptoms,” police said.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy and determine the cause and manner of death.

According to the Rocking Horse Ranch website, the facility is licensed to care for children 6 weeks old up through the fourth grade. They employ 22 teaching and support staff.

Neighbors told WCCO they saw a large police presence and an ambulance at the day care Monday morning.

A parent, who had her kids at the daycare up until recently, told WCCO that the news of the death is heartbreaking and shocking. She said she has had very positive experiences with the day care, which she said has an excellent reputation in the Prior Lake and Savage communities.

State inspection records found the day care had four violations. They were corrected in June, and six violations were found and corrected in March. The violations ranged from bathrooms not being clean to hazardous objects being accessible to children.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families said it temporarily suspended Rocking Horse Ranch’s license. The department said it was notified of two instances — one on Friday and one on Monday — of an infant exhibiting respiratory distress symptoms.

“While we cannot provide comment on open investigations, we extend our deepest sympathies to the child’s family and community,” said Randall Keys, the department’s inspector general. “The death of a child is heartbreaking, and the loss of this young life is especially tragic.”

A parent who had kids at Rocking Horse Ranch until recently told WCCO on Wednesday she had very positive experiences with the day care, which she said has an excellent reputation in the Prior Lake and Savage communities.

“I’ve never heard anything negative from families who attended,” she said. “The teachers are exceptionally caring and dedicated, which makes this news all the more heartbreaking and shocking.”

The parent said the last two days have been “confusing” amid swirling rumors.

“What is known at this point is that a baby experienced respiratory distress on Friday, and a 10-month-old tragically passed away on Monday after showing similar symptoms. I am heartbroken for the families,” she said.

State Rep. Nolan West of Blaine says it’s another example of why cameras should be required at day cares.

“If you had access to some sort of camera footage, or somebody did, it could be very quickly verified, what happened, and that’s better off for everyone,” West said.

West pulled his daughter out of a Blaine day care where two workers were charged with malicious punishment of a child and third-degree assault in July 2024. He said he received incident reports for bruising. West then proposed a bill to require cameras in all infant and toddler day care rooms. The legislature only passed a requirement for cameras with active maltreatment violations.

Savage police say they’re investigating the case alongside the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Andrew Dahmes at 952-882-2601.

Lisa Weiss, who owns Rocking Horse Ranch, said she had no comment regarding the incident.

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By KCCI Web Staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A Windsor Heights woman is facing charges for allegedly pocketing more than $744,000 intended for her Iowa Medicaid coverage between February 2020 and December 2022.

Carrie Cather, 48, is charged with theft and ongoing criminal conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, each check included a document explaining she was responsible for getting the money to her health care provider.

Investigators say she ignored this warning and kept the cash.

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By Marcus McIntosh

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    SLATER, Iowa (KCCI) — At just 13, RJ Jansen of Huxley has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing the Boy Scouts’ highest achievement before his 14th birthday.

His Eagle project: building a K-9 obstacle course at Earl Grimm Park in Slater, a community amenity that he says is already drawing wagging tails.

Jansen, who started as a 7-year-old Cub Scout, planned the project, organized 30 volunteers who logged hundreds of hours and secured donations for materials.

“We got wooden stakes we drove into the ground,” he said, describing the build. “There were a lot of steps that had to go into this.”

The course includes a seesaw, steps, a ramp and a tunnel, with careful attention to making the equipment sturdy enough for dogs.

“It’s a real cool thing that benefited the dogs … and benefited the city of Slater,” Jansen said.

The family’s springer spaniel-border collie mix, Layla, was an enthusiastic test runner.

Troop 163 Scoutmaster Aaron Brand called Jansen “determined,” “motivated” and “not afraid of hard work,” adding he believes Jansen is the troop’s youngest Eagle Scout ever.

Jansen said he set an early Eagle goal as a step toward bigger challenges, while holding onto scouting values.

“I’ve learned how to respect people, how to have good conversations, how to take leadership well,” he said.

Outside of scouting, he plays hockey, is a drummer and earns As and Bs in school.

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By Jada Williams

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — A new mural planned North East Seminole Heights is being described as both a celebration of LGBTQ+ history in Tampa and a response to what community leaders call an ongoing erasure of LGBTQ+ visibility across the state.

The project, led by PFLAG Tampa and local artist Cam Parker, will be painted on the wall of the Corner Club, a local business offering what organizers describe as “a huge wall that is publicly facing along a major thoroughfare.”

“This is something we have been wanting to do for a very long time, but the cost can be quite prohibitive,” said Trevor Rosine, president of PFLAG Tampa and chair of Tampa’s Human Rights Board.

“Artists are absolutely worth their time, and so we would never engage into an opportunity with somebody without having the full wherewithal to produce the money to make it happen.”

Rosine said the partnership with the Corner Club is deeply personal for him.

“It’s just down the street from where I grew up, so it’s of significant, personal significance. They offered the wall and said, ‘Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen. You just bring the artist and bring the paint and it’s all yours.’”

But the project is about more than paint on brick. Rosine said it is a direct response to the removal of LGBTQ+ murals across Tampa Bay and the country.

“It comes at a time of erasure for our community. Murals that represent LGBTQ+ folks are under attack. They are being paved over. They’re being blacked out in the middle of the night,” he said.

To him, this wall is a statement.

“You can paint over that crosswalk, but you can’t paint over this wall on this business,” Rosine said. “It’s a big F-U to the folks in the governor’s mansion that are trying to erase us,” he said.

Organizers are asking the public to help shape the mural’s design through an online nomination form.

“The entire idea behind the mural is that it will represent iconic places, people and times throughout Tampa’s history that were led by queer people,” Rosine said. “Anybody in the community can go online and nominate an iconic queer Tampa place, person or thing that they want to see represented on that wall.”

The board at PFLAG Tampa will review submissions before making final selections, with artist direction guiding what ultimately makes it onto the mural.

For Parker, whose artwork is already spread throughout the city, including a Beyoncé mural that Tampa Bay 28 featured in 2023, this project is about more than art.

“I feel like this project doesn’t necessarily separate itself. I feel like it elevates things,” Parker said. “This project in particular is so inclusive, and it’s really interactive, when you really think about it, because we’re giving people a chance to say, what do you want to see? What are you feeling?”

He said seeing LGBTQ+ street murals covered up by authorities has added urgency to the work.

“It lights an extra fire under me,” Parker said. “When I make a public work, after I’ve unveiled it and essentially given it to the world, I have to relinquish a certain amount of control, because you never know what’s going to happen with that building or that town. But it was just such a specific coverage. I was like, that of all things is what we’re worried about? Cool. Not feeding kids? That was not at the top of the list for getting done.”

Instead of focusing on anger, Parker said he wants to be part of the solution.

“We are not going to be enraged and outraged, we are going to be inspired, and we’re going to elevate what we do to a place where it’s something you can’t cover, dissolve or make disappear.”

Rosine emphasized that fundraising remains critical.

“We are confident we will raise this money, but Cam will not put a paint brush up until that money is raised. We are adamant that he needs to be paid for his time,” he said.

If the full budget cannot be secured, he said the mural will still happen but on a smaller scale.

“We will have a mural up. It may not be a 500 square foot mural, maybe a little parsed down, but we will get this mural up.”

Organizers are also planning a day for the public to watch the mural come to life in real time. Parker envisions a celebratory atmosphere.

“I was just hearing like kids laughing and like people, you know, clanging glasses and just having a good time and being communal and being unified,” he said. “Come out and enjoy yourself. This is an enjoyable experience. You are seen, you are heard. We love you. We are leading with love.”

Both Rosine and Parker said the mural will pay homage to people and moments central to Tampa’s LGBTQ+ history, from drag performers to past protests.

“There are young queer folks every day crossing by where those murals used to be, and where they once would have felt pride,” Rosine said. “And they no longer see themselves represented in the world that they grew up in. This is my city too. I grew up here. And so this is absolutely a direct response to the attacks on our art.”

Parker hopes the final product is more than a wall of paint.

“I want it to be enjoyable for everybody that sees it and that is able to witness it, whether they’re from here or not,” he said. “Having that nostalgia of, oh my God, that takes me back. That’s what I want.”

Rosine added that the project is meant to inspire pride in Tampa itself.

“I hope people feel proud to live here. I really do. I hope that young queer boy in Seminole Heights, who goes for 6 a.m. runs before high school, passes by that wall on his way into the Corner Club to grab a coffee and says, I’m in a great place. I belong here.”

For Parker, it is also about inspiring others to take that first step.

“Sometimes the act of taking that first step is bigger than the actual step,” he said. “I want this to be like a battery charge for people who need a battery charge, because we are tired out here. And I want for this to make us all see that we’re all on the same page, no matter what our situations are.”

The mural will also be done in conjunction with PFLAG Tampa’s 15th anniversary. They’re hosting an anniversary event on October 5th at 6 P.M. at Disco Pony in Ybor. Proceeds will benefit PFLAG Tampa’s mission.

If you would like to donate, you can find the link here.

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By Keely McCormick

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — A breakthrough medical device is helping stroke survivors regain control of their lives. It is called Vivistim. It is a small implanted device that helps restore movement in a patient’s arms and hands that had been lost after a stroke. It is used to make everyday tasks, like buttoning a shirt or holding a cup, possible again.

The device sends electrical signals to a nerve in the neck, helping the brain form new connections.

Ted Martin suffered a stroke in 2023 and then spent a year and a half in traditional therapy. His wife, Debbie, tells us it was hard on everyone.

“When he came home, he couldn’t walk. His right arm and hand were so swollen we had to put compression on them. I had to pick him up and help him into bed,” Debbie Martin, Ted’s wife, said.

After a year and a half of therapy, his doctor recommended the Vivistim. That is when everything started to change. He has made incredible progress after working closely with the physical and occupational therapists at Morton Plant Outpatient Rehab.

“He dresses himself, brushes his teeth. Now he clears the table for me, puts dishes in the dishwasher,” Debbie said.

From a wheelchair to a walker, even his own doctor was stunned.

Doctor Fox said, “I didn’t recognize him at first because I wasn’t expecting to see someone walking and with their hand reach out to me and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! This is Mr. Marti.’”

Dr. Benjamin Fox from BayCare explained that the Vivistim device is implanted in the patient’s chest, and when activated during therapy, it helps strengthen the brain-body connection.

The therapist gently presses the remote as the patient works through the movements.

Ted’s story is not just about technology. It is also about love. Ted and his wife Debbie have been together for more than 60 years. They are high school sweethearts who never left each other’s side, even when life got tough.

“He was my biggest supporter while I was working, and we are a good team. So it is my turn to support him… there’s nobody I’d rather grow old with,” Debbie said.

Even with the challenges of recovery, these two are finding joy in every step.

The Vivistim device can help stroke patients even years after an event. Ted’s story is a powerful example of what is possible.

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By Kelby Wingert

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Popeyes’ corporate office has filed a federal lawsuit against Asif Poonja and Jam Equities, the owner of five Popeyes restaurants in Iowa, including one on Merle Hay Road in Des Moines, for using its trademarks and operating systems without authorization.

Court documents state that prior agreements with Popeyes have been terminated, but the restaurants continue to operate under the Popeyes brand.

The lawsuit aims to have Poonja and the equity firm discontinue the use of the brand and not operate any Popeyes restaurants within a 10-mile radius of the current locations for a two-year period.

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By Charlie De Mar

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — A longtime South Side homeowner said she’s had it with cargo thieves trespassing through her property to steal from the train tracks near her house.

The criminals are getting so bold that her family is now worried for her safety.

“They don’t interfere with any other homes but mine,” Darlene Lewis said.

The 79-year-old should be enjoying her retirement, but instead, she worries about a group of train cargo thieves who have been trampling through her Auburn Gresham yard for years.

Lewis said organized crews have trespassed to access the train tracks that sit behind her home. In some cases, leaving boxes behind only to come back hours or days later to retrieve the stolen goods.

“When they came this last time, they were so bold they parked in my driveway and loaded stuff,” she said.

It’s become such a problem that Lewis’s son Richard said they recently installed a nearly $3,000 fence only to have it broken into weeks later.

“We thought that would be a deterrence,” Richard said. “I’m fearful, angry, scared all at the same time.”

Last fall, CBS Skywatch was overhead as thieves pulled big screen TVs off a freight train on Chicago’s West Side. Cargo theft is expensive, costing rail companies over $100 million in 2024, according to the Association of American Railroads.

“When there’s no deterrent from the prosecution side, it does nothing to keep people from coming back,” said Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads. “They are going to get bolder and bolder and bolder.”

“I see empty crates on the tracks that they might have taken merchandise and left the crates,” Richard said.

Back on the South Side, the family said the problem hasn’t improved even after contacting Chicago police, railroad operators, and 18th Ward Alderman Derrick Curtis.

“Nobody is listening at all, everybody is blaming everyone else,” Richard said. “I don’t know where the responsibility lies, but it has to lie somewhere.”

A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern wouldn’t comment on any specific investigations or incidents, but said in a statement:

“Norfolk Southern is committed to protecting customer freight and ensuring the safety of the communities we serve. While we are unable to comment on active investigations… generally speaking, in Chicago and across our network, our Norfolk Southern Police Department takes a multi-layered approach to cargo security—combining proactive policing, advanced technology, and close collaboration with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. This includes sharing intelligence on investigations and theft trends, supporting joint task forces, and deploying surveillance tools and real-time tracking systems to detect and deter unauthorized access. Community safety and cargo security are always top of mind. It is a shared responsibility, and we remain focused on protecting communities and safeguarding high-value freight through prevention, partnership, and innovation. If you’re hearing specific details from neighbors affected by recent events, we would stress that they also share their experience and document the concerns with law enforcement.”

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By Randy Wimbley

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    SOUTHFIELD, Michigan (WXYZ) — A gun shop set to open next door to two day care centers in Southfield has sparked concerns from parents.

Red Zone Firearms is preparing to open at 12 Mile near Greenfield roads, directly next to the IXL Learning Center and Baby Genius day care centers.

Mikal Brewer, who has a child at IXL, expressed his concerns about the location.

“I was in disbelief when I first saw it. Clearly, guns and children do not mix,” Brewer said.

“It could be someone handling a firearm and there’s an accident. It could be someone who’s mentally unstable and they’re purchasing a gun right next to a school.”

Shomari Hudson owns Red Zone Firearms and is a federal firearms licensed dealer who previously operated out of an office building before getting his first brick-and-mortar location.

“There are definitely gun safety rules that have to be followed for anyone that is legally operating a firearm. There are state gun laws that have to be followed and best believe over here at Red Zone Firearms, we are following all those laws,” Hudson said.

Hudson said the city approved his business without raising concerns about the location.

“They did everything they’re supposed to do and trust me, if I wasn’t supposed to be here, that sign would not be up,” Hudson said.

Tessa Castillo from the IXL Learning Center said the city gave them no notice that Red Zone was opening nearby.

“Yes, he is doing everything that he is supposed to be doing appropriately, although we don’t agree that the city of Southfield should be allowing this so close to a place of children and a state-funded schooling program,” Castillo said.

Hudson, a former law enforcement officer, says in addition to selling firearms, Red Zone will offer gun safety and training classes. The shop does not have a live fire shooting range. Hudson says his core demographic includes single mothers, some of whom are victims of domestic violence, and he also works with 3rd Circuit Court to help troubled teens.

“I have a program called The Winning Mindset and in this program, they learn conflict resolution, they learn how to set goals and how to become a better person,” Hudson said. “So like I said, that’s what this is mostly about. Yes, I am a federal firearms dealer, yes, I sell firearms, but that’s not the main agenda over here.”

Hudson says he is open to having a conversation with day care parents and staffers about their concerns and his commitment to safety. Those interviewed say they’re interested in taking him up on that offer.

In the meantime, some day care parents plan to voice their concerns at the next planning commission and city council meetings.

The city of Southfield provided a statement saying:

“The retail sale of firearms and accessories by the Red Zone Firearms Gun Store is a permitted use in the B-3, General Business district zoning classification. The City of Southfield will continue to investigate state and federal laws and regulations regarding the issues raised by community concerns in this matter and is evaluating available options.”

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

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