Category: CNN Regional

By Neal Riley

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    WEST LEBANON, New Hampshire (WBZ) — Police say they have identified a suspect after someone stole a cash box containing about $1,000 from Girl Scouts who were selling cookies outside a New Hampshire Walmart.

It happened on Wednesday at about 1:50 p.m. outside the store in West Lebanon.

“The Girl Scout and her mother were about to close up the booth when a man came up and then ran off with their cash box,” the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains said in a statement. “Thankfully, both were unharmed during the incident.”

The troop was selling cookies to raise money “for a celebratory trip in their final year as Girl Scouts,” the organization said.

Police described the thief as a White man wearing a white sweatshirt, blue jeans, black hat and black mask. After grabbing the metal box, he ran into the woods behind the shopping plaza.

With the help of a K-9 team, police followed the suspected thief’s trail to the parking lot behind a New Hampshire state liquor store. Surveillance video from the store showed him running across the parking lot and getting into a white Jeep Grand Cherokee.

While the cash box was later found in the woods, there was no money inside. The Girl Scouts are hoping to raise money from the public to make up for the cash that was taken.

Police said tips from the public helped investigators identify a suspect who lives in Vermont. The police chief said he is currently in jail there, and police are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant.

Lebanon is in western New Hampshire, along the border with Vermont.

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 Richard Ramos, Conor McGill

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    AUBURN, California (KOVR) — A California judge on Friday sentenced former Major League Baseball pitcher Daniel Serafini to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2021 killing of his father-in-law, Robert Gary Spohr, and the attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Wendy Wood.

Serafini appeared in person in a packed courtroom at the Historic Auburn Courthouse, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit. Family members of the victims, friends, community members and several jurors who convicted him filled the gallery.

The sentencing comes one week after a judge denied Serafini’s request for a new trial, in which he claimed he received ineffective assistance of counsel. His attorney told the court at the start of Friday’s hearing that they plan to appeal. Under California law, an appeal can be filed within 60 days of sentencing.

“Today’s sentence brings a measure of justice to something that can never be made right,” Adrienne Spohr, a daughter of the couple, told media members outside the courthouse following the sentencing.

Last year, a Placer County jury found Serafini guilty of murdering Spohr and attempting to murder Wood. Prosecutors said that on June 5, 2021, Serafini broke into his in-laws’ Lake Tahoe-area home and waited inside for hours until the couple returned from a boating trip with their grandsons and their other daughter, Erin Spohr, who is Serafini’s wife

Authorities said Serafini then shot both victims, killing Robert Spohr and leaving Wood with serious injuries. Wood was shot twice in the head and left there to die. She survived but was left with life-changing injuries. Wood took her own life in 2023.

Investigators previously described Spohr’s killing as an execution-style murder. While addressing the press, Adrienne Spohr detailed how her mother survived the shooting that day and accused her sister, Erin, of helping Serafini fight against justice.

“What’s important to remember is that my mom fought with everything she could to get out of the house that night, and she did not let Dan Serafini win,” she said. “My 69-year-old mom escaped a murder scene, got herself out of the house, and changed her will to remove Erin Spohr and Dan Serafini.”

Serafini was arrested in late 2023 following a two-year investigation. Authorities also arrested 33-year-old Samantha Scott, described in court records as Serafini’s nanny-turned-lover, in connection with the attack. Prosecutors said Scott drove Serafini to his in-laws’ home the day of the shooting. Scott has since pleaded guilty to being an accessory.

Before the sentence was handed down, the court heard multiple victim impact statements.

One friend of Spohr and Wood described fishing trips with Spohr and said the loss has left a lasting void. As he read his statement, he looked directly at Serafini, who turned toward him at several points.

Another friend told the court that the couple, who had been married for 50 years, did everything they could for their daughters and grandchildren. A third friend said she fell to her knees in disbelief when she learned what had happened and described the crime as a tragedy that showed no remorse.

Adrienne Spohr told the court she has suffered from PTSD, anxiety and depression since the shooting. She said she had to leave her job and sought a concealed carry permit out of fear. She also told the court she was shocked to learn how much her parents had given to Serafini over the years. She asked that the court remember her parents as adventurous and happy people.

Adrienne Spohr has publicly advocated for justice for her parents since the shootings, previously calling the past four years “just hell” and crediting investigators and prosecutors for never giving up on the case.

“Dan Serafini was finally held accountable for what he did to my parents, and he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars,” Adrienne Spohr said outside the courthouse. “Erin Spohr chose not to show up today, once again choosing to avoid responsibility for supporting her husband and resisting justice for my parents.”

Serafini’s attorney read a statement from Erin Spohr, who said Serafini’s character has been “horribly mischaracterized.” Erin Spohr testified during the trial that she and Serafini had an open marriage and that she still trusts him. The defense also displayed a photograph from a family trip to Africa that included Serafini, his wife, Robert Spohr and Wood, and said they intend to litigate restitution. The attorney described the justice system as broken.

In delivering the sentence, the judge said the court found Serafini had received due process. A status conference is scheduled for March 16 to address restitution.

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 Tom Dougherty

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Three dozen swords and 50 arrowheads dating back nearly 4,000 years to the Bronze Age were seized in Philadelphia by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection earlier this month.

CBP officers confiscated 36 copper-alloy short swords and 50 copper-alloy arrowheads on Feb. 18 at the Port of Philadelphia, the federal law enforcement agency announced Friday.

The federal law enforcement agency said the shipment arrived in Philadelphia from the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 16 and was destined for Jacksonville, Florida. They said officers X-rayed the shipment, which detected sword-like objects. Officers then opened the shipment and found the swords and arrowheads, according to CBP.

With the help of an archaeologist from a Philadelphia university, the short swords and arrowheads were authenticated as antiquities dating back to 1600-1000 BCE from the southwestern Caspian Sea near the Talish Mountains region of Iran, CBP said.

CBP said the items likely were obtained from illicit excavations of burial sites. They said the swords and arrowheads will be safeguarded until a disposition takes place.

“Customs and Border Protection officers strive to rescue cultural artifacts from the grips of illicit international traders who plunder and exploit another nation’s heritage for profit,” Elliot Ortiz, the acting area port director in Philadelphia for CBP, said in a press release. “The deceptive practices used to smuggle these treasures into the United States not only violate our import laws but also undermine efforts to preserve and protect the integrity of cultural history.”

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 Logan Hall, Samantha Chaney

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    EASTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Police body camera video shows an Easton, Massachusetts officer rescuing a 78-year-old Raynham man from a burning car on Friday morning.

A Mack dump truck was experiencing problems on the side of Turnpike Street just after 2 a.m. when a Ford pickup truck struck the back of it, according to police.

Vehicles catch fire after crash

The pickup truck then became stuck under the dump truck, trapping the driver, Francis Leverone, inside. A Toyota Camry then hit the back of the pickup truck and caught fire, police said.

Easton Police Officer Dean Soucie arrived at the crash and saw that the two vehicles were on fire. Video shows Soucie rushing over before breaking the driver’s side window and then, with the help of the two witnesses, freeing Leverone from the pickup truck. Soucie said he was confused but conscious.

Easton crash

“As I reached inside the vehicle, one of the passersby, he actually jumped into the cab of the truck, and he helped me free the individual,” Soucie said.

They then carried the driver to safety.

Leverone was taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to a Boston hospital. He received serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

No one else was injured in the crash.

Wife thanks rescuers

Dee Leverone told WBZ her husband is doing OK. “I’m just thankful for the people that got him out,” she said. “Very thankful.”

After watching the police body-cam video on the news she said, “I was shocked, I was like ‘Oh my God!’ I just couldn’t believe it. His truck is like melted.”

She says she realized that something was wrong last night when her husband never made it home from work.

“I kept trying to call him and call him and I finally got ahold of him at like 4:30 a.m. and he was at [Good Samaritan Hospital] and he told me he’s gotten in an accident,” Dee said.

She says he’s recovering at the Boston Medical Center and being treated for a dislocated hip.

“He’s a trooper,” Dee said. “He’s a strong man and you know he’s 78 but you know he’s a toughie. He definitely is a toughie.”

“They jumped into action”

Soucie commended the help of the two witnesses and said that before he arrived at the crash, they had attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher and removed a gasoline tank from the pickup truck before it could ignite.

“They jumped into action like it was nothing,” Soucie said. “Those two individuals were absolutely awesome.”

Easton Police Chief Keith Boone said that he is “extremely proud” of Soucie and the witnesses.

“He saved a life last night,” Chief Boone said. “He is an exemplary police officer and this is just one example. I think he’s a hero.”

Turnpike Street was closed for several hours following the crash. Easton Police are investigating.

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 Shelly Garzon

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    ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — With early voting wrapping up for the 2026 primary election and the voter registration deadline quickly approaching, community members in Asheville are rallying around one message: Participation matters.

Groups like Asheville Fights Back Network are working to energize voters ahead of key deadlines.

“Think about yourself, but also think about your neighbor because we’re going to get forward together, we’re going to get forward with love,” Lola Lafey, an organizer with Asheville Fights Back Network, said.

Friday night, the group hosted a march from Asheville Middle School to the Wesley Grant Center with the goal of increasing voter turnout.

“There’s several different voting locations and whether you walk to the polls, you drive to the polls, you take the bus, get yourself to the polls,” Lafey said.

Polls will close at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, which is the last day for early voting and for residents to register to vote before primary Election Day.

Residents who participated in the march said they joined to feel a sense of community and collective power.

“It helps me feel more powerful as part of a block of people that is powerful, not personally powerful, but we can do something real together,” resident Melissa Hyman said.

Participants said they hope events like the march will inspire others to cast their ballots.

“Even if it’s very humble and small today, every step that we take and every time we sing together and get together and march together, it grows the movement,” Hyman 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 CBS 58 Newsroom

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    WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Earlier Friday, Feb. 27, West Allis police saw a stolen vehicle at the intersection of S. 92nd St. and W. National Ave.

Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but it fled east bound on W. National starting a chase.

A 15-year-old girl from West Allis jumped from the vehicle while it was speeding in the area of S. 84th and W. National. She was taken into custody.

The vehicle continued to speed east bound and crashed into a parked car around 58th and W. National, ending the chase.

The driver, a 17-year-old man from Waukesha and a back seat passenger, 18-year-old man from Milwaukee, were both taken into custody.

A fourth occupant ran from the scene and has not been located.

The investigation is 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.

By Daniel Woodruff

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    PROVO (KSL) — Brigham Young University is apologizing after nine prospective students mistakenly received notices that said they had been accepted.

The university told KSL a systems error led to those applicants being told they were admitted to BYU when, in fact, they were not.

“We are truly sorry that an unfortunate error in our admissions decision notification system resulted in nine prospective students mistakenly receiving congratulatory messages of acceptance,” said BYU admissions director Chad Johnson in a statement. “The Admissions Department reached out to those impacted to express our regret and our sincere apologies.”

Johnson added, “We know that admissions decisions are highly anticipated, and we recognize this mistake caused confusion and disappointment. Our BYU admissions team is working to ensure this mistake does not occur in the future.”

For one of those students and his family, it’s been a painful experience. Owen Johansen, 18, a high school senior who lives in Oakton, Virginia, received his acceptance to BYU two weeks ago.

“At first when I was accepted, I was really excited,” he said.

His mother, Talai Johansen, told KSL their family was “thrilled” and celebrated his admission to the place where both she and her husband went to school.

But last week, as they went through the process of accepting the admission and finding a roommate, they realized something was off. A rejection letter had replaced the “Welcome to BYU” notification in his online portal.

After trying to get BYU officials to talk with them, the Johansens said they eventually learned the acceptance was a mistake.

“I was really mad,” Owen Johansen said. “They could have done it way better.”

The whole experience, he added, left him “pretty sad.”

His mother said she’s disappointed that the university has only reached out to apologize to her and her husband, but not to her son directly. Talai Johansen wants BYU to honor his acceptance.

“I don’t want them to just do it for Owen. I want them to do it for these eight other students. I want all of these nine students to be admitted into BYU,” she said. “It is the right thing to do.”

BYU did not provide additional details about the nature of the error that led to the incorrect acceptance notices.

“I have been completely heartbroken by this entire process,” Talai Johansen said.

In 2024, BYU’s College of Nursing mistakenly sent out both acceptance and rejection letters to hundreds of prospective students. The university blamed that on an “error in a new system.”

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By Lauren Victory, Adam Harrington, Elyssa Kaufman

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — The celebration of life for Reverend Jesse Jackson continues with another visitation on Friday morning.

Mourners lined up early Friday morning to pay their respects for a second day at Rainbow PUSH Headquarters. Supporters will have 12 hours to say their goodbyes.

A suburban woman brought her three grandchildren to experience this historic moment as they go through school.

“I thought it was very important that they come to experience this,” Lazane Tyker said. “When I’m long gone, they will always remember this, that they were here and participated.”

Jackson’s family shook thousands of hands inside Rainbow Push headquarters on Thursday as a line of supporters stretched down the block.

Reverend Jackson’s casket is heading back to his East Coast roots after today’s visitation for services in South Carolina and Washington D.C.

His remains will then return to Chicago for “The People’s Celebration” next Friday. A private service is scheduled for March 7th.

Resting in power at Rainbow PUSH

Founded in the early 1970s as Operation PUSH, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition grew from a local organizing effort into a national platform for civil rights, economic justice, and political mobilization. From the very building where Jackson will lie in repose, he led voter registration drives, advocated for corporate accountability, and pushed for greater access to education and employment opportunities.

It was also from Rainbow PUSH that Jackson helped expand the idea of a rainbow coalition — uniting people across race, class, and political lines around shared economic interests.

Jackson’s political campaigns in 1984 and 1988 were organized through the PUSH network, proving that a civil rights organization could also become a national political force.

For many in Chicago, weekly gatherings at Rainbow PUSH became a forum where local concerns met national attention.

“For generations, children and adults will hear the words, ‘Keep hope alive,’ hear the words, ‘I am somebody,'” said the Rev. Michael Pfleger of Chicago’s St. Sabina Church. “He took the phrase keep hope alive and made it tangible.”

For decades, Rainbow PUSH Headquarters amplified Rev. Jackson’svoice. It now becomes a place for reflection for a movement that stretched far beyond the walls of the physical building.

Honors for Rev. Jackson planned for South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

The Jackson family said they shared him with the world and in return, the world became a part of their extended family. This is evident too in what will unfold over the next week.

After a couple of days here in Chicago, there will be services held for Jackson in South Carolina and Washington, D.C. before his funeral will take place back in Chicago at the end of next week.

The Jackson family wanted to make sure their patriarch, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, returned to his roots on the East Coast.

Jackson played football at Sterling High School in Greenville, and famously protested library segregation with a group known as the Greenville Eight.

Jackson’s loved ones made a formal request to South Carolina lawmakers that he lie in repose at the state capitol in Columbia. That request was granted Monday, March 2, with a private, then public service — including a wreath-laying — planned at the statehouse rotunda.

A church service is scheduled for that evening in West Columbia, South Carolina.

Details have not yet been released on how Rev. Jackson will be honored in Washington, D.C.

Rev. Jesse Jackson funeral and celebration of life services schedule Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27: Lying in State at Rainbow PUSH Coalition, 930 E. 50th St., Chicago, 10 a.m. Sunday, March 1 – Thursday, March 5: Travel dates for formal services in South Carolina and Washington, D.C. Monday, March 2 – Jackson will lie in repose at the South Carolina Statehouse. Following a small private family ceremony inside the Statehouse, the visitation will be open to the public from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 6: The People’s Celebration at House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago Doors Open: 9 a.m., service: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7: Private Homegoing Celebration at Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Limited capacity. A spokesperson for the Jackson family said they will share additional details and information for public registration to attend services soon. They will also share a livestream of the services for the public.

The family asks that all flowers and condolence cards be sent to:

Leak & Sons Funeral Home

7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

Chicago, IL 60619

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.