Category: CNN Regional

By Nicole Comstock

Click here for updates on this story

    TEMECULA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — An investigation is underway in Temecula after a Methodist church was targeted by vandals just days after hosting a Pride event.

“There are churches that exist to share love, affirmation,” said Pastor Drew Davis of United Methodist Church.

He says supporting the LGBTQ+ community matters to him because his children identify with the community. As such, he’s hosted a series of Pride events at the Margarita Road church.

“That really sparked my heart to really try,” Davis said. “We always get motivated by our kids and man, his passion has fueled mine.”

However, after the most recent event in October, Davis said someone pried open the box on the church’s flagpole and tore down the inclusive flag, along with the American flag.

After he installed two more in their place, they were taken again.

“They were up for a couple of days, but those were also taken,” Davis said.

About a week later, he said someone spray-painted a swastika at the back of the church.

“It is an image of hate that just transcends borders,” Davis said.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the reported theft and vandalism incidents.

When asked if he had anything to say to the suspects, Pastor Davis said he had a message for the community instead.

“We have so many friends that exist in lives that they need to see hope. I hope those friends that are searching for hopeful places can see people that are willing to display it, no matter how hard it is,” he said.

Davis said the church hasn’t yet removed the swastika and that, instead, they plan to transform the symbol into something beautiful.

“We want to grow a painting around that imagery to have it dissolve into a mural of peace,” he said, adding that he wants everyone to know that his church will not waver in its commitment to providing hope for vulnerable communities.

Church officials have a name reading ceremony planned on November 19th for Transgender Remembrance Day.

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 Nicole Comstock

Click here for updates on this story

    TEMECULA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — An investigation is underway in Temecula after a Methodist church was targeted by vandals just days after hosting a Pride event.

“There are churches that exist to share love, affirmation,” said Pastor Drew Davis of United Methodist Church.

He says supporting the LGBTQ+ community matters to him because his children identify with the community. As such, he’s hosted a series of Pride events at the Margarita Road church.

“That really sparked my heart to really try,” Davis said. “We always get motivated by our kids and man, his passion has fueled mine.”

However, after the most recent event in October, Davis said someone pried open the box on the church’s flagpole and tore down the inclusive flag, along with the American flag.

After he installed two more in their place, they were taken again.

“They were up for a couple of days, but those were also taken,” Davis said.

About a week later, he said someone spray-painted a swastika at the back of the church.

“It is an image of hate that just transcends borders,” Davis said.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the reported theft and vandalism incidents.

When asked if he had anything to say to the suspects, Pastor Davis said he had a message for the community instead.

“We have so many friends that exist in lives that they need to see hope. I hope those friends that are searching for hopeful places can see people that are willing to display it, no matter how hard it is,” he said.

Davis said the church hasn’t yet removed the swastika and that, instead, they plan to transform the symbol into something beautiful.

“We want to grow a painting around that imagery to have it dissolve into a mural of peace,” he said, adding that he wants everyone to know that his church will not waver in its commitment to providing hope for vulnerable communities.

Church officials have a name reading ceremony planned on November 19th for Transgender Remembrance Day.

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 Charlie De Mar

Click here for updates on this story

    PORTAGE PARK, Illinois (WBBM) — The man accused of shooting and killing a 9-year-old girl in Portage Park in 2023 has pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced Thursday morning.

The family of Serabi Medina said the thought of going through a trial and reliving the details of that day was just too painful. Instead, they pushed hard to strike a plea deal that they say will hopefully keep the accused shooter, Michael Goodman, 46, locked up for the rest of his life.

“We are hoping with the 40 years that he is never a free man,” said cousin Jaleesa Medina.

Thursday, in a Cook County courtroom, Jaleesa will speak directly to the man accused of shooting and killing 9-year-old Serabi Medina.

Goodman accepted a plea deal last month and agreed to 40 years, according to the Medina family.

“When I look him in the eye, that’s going to be the last thing my cousin saw — he will never walk a free man,” she said.

In August 2023, prosecutors say Serabi was outside her Portage Park home, where she had just bought ice cream and ridden her scooter, when a gunshot went off in Goodman’s home. He lived nearby.

Goodman then came outside, ignored Serabi’s father, and followed her to the vestibule of her apartment building, where he then shot and killed her. The attack was unprovoked.

Serabi’s father struggled with Goodman over the gun, and a shot went off, hitting Goodman in the eye.

“It’s evil, pure evil, and because of him my whole family knows what evil truly is,” Jaleesa said.

The judge will ultimately have discretion on the sentence given to Goodman on Thursday.

Jaleesa said he wrote the family a letter from jail explaining his drug use and mental state at the time of the shooting.

“He basically said what he did was a mistake. That’s how he labeled killing my cousin a mistake, and tomorrow I will tell him what he did was not a mistake.”

The sentencing hearing is set for 10 a.m. Thursday.

Goodman will likely get credit for time served.

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 Noel Brennan

Click here for updates on this story

    BELLWOOD, Illinois (WBBM) — For nearly two decades, a mother has been taking care of a special garden along the Illinois Prairie Path, just west of Chicago.

At the Moms Memorial Garden in Bellwood, Illinois, the names you’ll find there are as striking as the flowers.

Even the breeze comes and goes, but for Phyllis Duncan, it seems to have a perennial presence at the garden.

She plants herself in Bellwood in the morning along the path six days a week every month.

There’s work to do every season, because the garden grows every time a budding life doesn’t get a chance to bloom.

“This is a special place. It’s an emotional place. It’s a place of refuge where mothers can come and see their child’s name and sit here and reminisce and think about what was, what could have been and what is,” she said.

The more than 70 names written on paver stones represent men and women from the near west suburbs to Chicago’s West Side.

“Who have lost their lives to gun violence, reckless homicide and suicide.”

Young men like Marty Burtin, Jr., who was killed after being shot 19 times.

“I just miss him so much. He’s my only son. My baby boy.”

It’s been ten years, but Teresa Burtin says she hasn’t begun to grieve.

“When I see myself break down, I always say stop, but my husband and my kids and grandkids say, you know, to let it go, but I can’t. I can’t,” she said.

For parents, Tiffany Swygert and George Fox, two years later, feel no different than the day they lost their son Jason.

“He went to a party with a couple of coworkers after work and did not come back home,” Swygert said.

“Something is wrong. This is not normal, and it has gotten to the point where it seems to be normal,” Phyllis said.

Eighteen years ago, Phyllis lobbied the village to set aside a small plot beside the prairie path for a garden. She calls it Moms Memorial Garden — named for her support group, Mothers of Murdered Sons and Slain Daughters.

“When the women come here, and they look at me with tears in they eyes and they body is just shaking with grief, I understand,” she said.

Phyllis lost her son Dodavah 21 years ago in a drive-by shooting. She said the last time she saw her son was on Mother’s Day.

“My son was a beautiful, caring young man who liked to make people laugh, who was the baby boy of the family. The youngest,” she said. “I still have days where I’m just emotionally messed up.”

The garden allows Phyllis to grow in her grief as she helps other parents navigate their own.

“She just has that motherly love that you can’t buy, and it’s genuine,” Fox said.

“I just love that lady. I just love her,” Burtin said.

A mother who tends her community as well as her garden.

Phyllis recently hosted a community day of remembrance in Bellwood, where family members brought photos of their loved ones and gathered at the garden.

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 Erin Jones

Click here for updates on this story

    DEEP ELLUM, Texas (KTVT) — After a deadly Halloween weekend in Deep Ellum, the community is coming together to talk about what needs to change.

Wednesday night, the Deep Ellum Foundation held its first of two listening sessions.

There was a moment of silence for the four people killed over the weekend. Another 15 were injured.

“I woke up to the tragic news, and it honestly impacts all of us,” Jason Palma said.

Palma works at The Bomb Factory and says some of his coworkers are taking time to focus on their mental health.

Three separate shootings took place last weekend, and now, Dallas police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man seen on surveillance video pulling out a gun along Main Street, just before one of the shootings.

They say he is wanted for questioning and did not fatally shoot anyone. So far, police have not announced any arrests in connection with the four murders.

“It’s horrific,” Ron Wilson said. “The whole neighborhood has just been taking a beating over the last five years.”

Wilson, who owns Louie Louie’s Dueling Piano Bar, says loitering has become a major problem.

“Kids that are underage hanging out in the parking lot,” he said. “Me personally… the first thing I would try to do is enforce loitering ordinances.”

The Deep Ellum Foundation has already been working to improve safety through increased patrols, more surveillance cameras, and outreach programs, including the Community Engagers who work with young people.

“But, it’s obvious that we have work left to do and so I think the hope here is to sort of get that from the community,” Veronica Young said.

This week, federal and local authorities announced Operation Deep Cover, a new initiative bringing more uniformed and undercover officers into Deep Ellum.

It also calls for tougher prosecution of gun and drug crimes and a review of past cases.

“I feel like it’s a good step in the right direction,” Palma said. “I hope they do everything in their power to make it safer for everyone.. from people who visit out of town to people who live here and work here.”

The next listening session will be this Friday at 2 p.m. at the Deep Ellum Community Center. The city manager and police chief are expected to attend.

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 Corey Martin

Click here for updates on this story

    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — From the gridiron to the ice to the diamond, Pittsburgh’s three major professional sports teams deliver. But what you might not always see is how they also deliver for our neighbors in need.

“The Penguins, Pirates and Steelers are great partners with us year-round,” said Brian Gulish, the vice president of marketing and communications for The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Gulish says the three teams have always helped in big and small ways but really ramped up their commitment five years ago.

“Since 2021, during the peak of the pandemic, the three teams came to us, and they expressed an interest in wanting to do more with the organization to support our neighbors during such a trying time in the community and across the country and, quite frankly, the world,” said Gulish.

So, they came up with the idea for a food distribution the Tuesday before Thanksgiving on the North Shore called ‘Burgh Proud, and they’ve been doing it every year since.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to partner with those teams, especially during the time of the year where you want to have a hot meal with family and friends,” Gulish said.

Earlier this year, they added another component to it called the ‘Burgh Proud Challenge. The Richard King Mellon Foundation pledged $1 million and asked the community to match it.

“We had more than 3,500 fundraisers, people who organized teams to raise those funds, and collectively we raised more than $1.1 million,” Gulish said.

It wasn’t just a fundraising challenge, though. There was also a challenge to get active during the month of June. 

“They had to commit to walking a mile a day,” Gulish added. “So, that would be 30 miles. And we saw a tremendous outpouring of support for that.”

This year’s ‘Burgh Proud food distribution will be on Tuesday, Nov. 24, with enough food for 350 local families.

“There will be turkeys and food boxes with all the fixings — things like sweet potatoes, radishes, carrots, and onions. You’ll also get some dry supplies in there as well,” said Gulish.

There will also be gift cards from Giant Eagle.

“So if there’s something you don’t get at that distribution, you can go and get pies or anything you need from Giant Eagle,” Gulish added.

There’s no registration required, and the three teams will put out the time and location details on their social media platforms the weekend prior.

“It’s special because there’s a purpose behind it,” Gulish said. “You’re helping people. You’re helping someone who you may not see on the outside that is experiencing food insecurity, but it could be your neighbor, it could be your family, a friend, a loved one or someone down the street that you don’t know. So, you can’t judge a book by its cover. And to make sure that people have the resources they need to thrive, that’s really what it’s all about.”

And the KDKA Turkey Fund is another way you can be ‘Burgh Proud and help our neighbors.

Here’s how you can donate to it. You can go to any PNC Bank. If you donate in person, they’ll match all donations, up to $100,000. You can donate online at kdkaturkeyfund.com. You can text “kdturkey” to 50155. Or you can mail a check to P.O. Box Thanks, Pittsburgh, PA 15230.

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 Nikki DeMentri

Click here for updates on this story

    COLLINGSWOOD, New Jersey (KYW) — Drink up Collingswood! One of New Jersey’s last dry towns has voted to reverse a century-old liquor ban.

Voters approved a ballot measure that will allow alcohol sales in the borough for the first time in 100 years.

CBS News Philadelphia explored the issue over the summer before the ballot question was finalized. At the time, several residents said lifting the booze ban could be beneficial for local businesses.

The vote comes just two years after neighboring Haddon Heights ended its own ban on alcohol sales, which had been in place for more than a century.

However, Collingswood restaurants can’t start serving alcohol just yet. The state will determine how many liquor licenses will be available.

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 Andrew Ramos

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW YORK (WCBS) — An 89-year-old woman and her 70-year-old son say they were blindsided when three people forced their way into their Bronx apartment. Two of them were dressed as Amazon workers, police said.

The 70-year-old was bound with zip ties as the suspects searched for valuables.

“I don’t know, I’m in shock. I’m still in shock,” the 89-year-old told CBS News New York’s Andrew Ramos.

She’s still trying to figure out why she was targeted. She was inside her Bainbridge Avenue apartment in the Bedford Park section Tuesday morning when she heard a knock at the door. Her son was there visiting at the time.

“He opened the door and they bum rushed him with a gun,” the victim’s boyfriend said. He wasn’t at home at the time of the incident, but is speaking on behalf of the family, who is still shaken up.

Police have released images of two of the suspects, a man and woman wearing Amazon vests. A third man wore all black. It’s not clear if they impersonated workers in order to get into the building.

Once they were inside her apartment, the trio seemed to zero in on her 70-year-old son, believing he had cash.

“[They said,] ‘Where’s the money, where’s the money, if you don’t tell me, I’m going to kill you,'” the woman’s boyfriend said.

“They didn’t touch me. They didn’t do anything to me. They just went straight to the room and searched,” the 89-year-old said.

They used zip ties to restrain the son and then the suspects ransacked the apartment. They got away with a cellphone and $24.

As disturbing as the ordeal was, the 89-year-old remains defiant.

“I’m not scared. I’m not afraid. Nothing is going to happen. They’re not coming back,” she said.

No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website or via DM on X, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.

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 Elijah Westbrook, Doug Williams

Click here for updates on this story

    WESTCHESTER COUNTY, New York (WCBS) — Board of Election officials were still counting ballots on Wednesday, hours after scanners were unable to accept votes at polling places across Westchester County on Election Day.

In a parking lot in Ardsley, a group of frustrated and likely sleep-deprived staffers was briefed on what the rest of their day would look like.

“We are going to go late, obviously. We’ll discuss the areas that we start with first. We have a limited amount of machines. They are certified. We have officials here from the state. They are scanners, they scan at the rate that they do,” Westchester County Elections Commissioner Tajian Nelson said.

How the scanner issue happened will be investigated, but only once all the votes are counted, as promised.

Smaller towns and villages may already be done, and some will be done even later.

The problem started just after 6 a.m. on Tuesday when scanners went down across the county due to a printing issue with the ballots, officials said. Voters waiting on line were told to fill out ballots and place them in secured bags.

Despite the unusual process, voters said they felt confident their ballots were being handled properly.

“The instructions were clear. I just follow the instructions, get authenticated, vote and place it in a sealed bag,” said Elmsford voter Cathy Ronan.

During the overnight hours, the ballots were taken to a Board of Elections facility under police supervision.

“I think we should be better than this as a county,” said Scott Wolfgang, who is running for Pelham town supervisor. “Last year, the village of Pelham Manor came down to a two-vote difference, so I would expect we’re gonna have a close race again.”

Wolfgang said Pelham has a total of 4,000 votes to count and the machines were getting through roughly 280 an hour. That math led him to believe it would take a total of 13-15 hours to count them, meaning he’d be back on Thursday.

“I don’t have any concerns about everyone’s vote being counted. It’s just it’s an unfortunate process,” Wolfgang said.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said Tuesday’s issue will be looked into and there will be accountability.

“We’re going to convene a bipartisan team to conduct a thorough review of the decisions and failures that led to this debacle and determine where accountability lies and ensure that this never happens again,” Jenkins said.

Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Mike Lawler chose to concede to Democratic challenger Cait Conley on Tuesday night despite not all of the votes being counted. The 17th Congressional District race was hotly contested, and the seat encompasses most of northern Westchester.

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 Jack Springgate

Click here for updates on this story

    HIGHLAND PARK, Michigan (WWJ) — The city of Highland Park elected a new mayor, but she’s by no means a newcomer to the community.

The woman most know as ‘Mama Shu’ is already known for making a difference in her city while facing adversity head-on.

Shamayim Harris rarely goes by that name. Most know her as Mama Shu. She’s been transforming Avalon Street in Highland Park for nearly two decades, and on Tuesday her community elected her Mayor Shu.

“I’m Mama to a bunch of people,” said Highland Park mayor-elect Shamayim ‘Mama Shu’ Harris.

She already earned the title of Mayor of Avalon Village while creating this haven of opportunity and resources that had been blight. What she’s done with one city block is just an example of what she hopes to do as Mayor of Highland Park.

“Some of the skills and the resources and the connections that it took to help to rebuild just Avalon Street are definitely going to be used as it relates to helping to recreate and really heal Highland Park,” she said.

While only 27 votes separated her from incumbent mayor Glenda McDonald, Harris says the win is pretty validating for someone who never had plans to run for office.

“When you see you want to do some things better, just go ahead and do it yourself, and that’s what I did. I’m not just getting ready to sit here and complain; let me go ahead and just throw my hat in the race,” Harris said.

She says it’s the impact she made at Avalon Village that she hopes to replicate in her first term as mayor, now on a larger scale.

“It’s called the Five-Star Harris Plan—have better communications with the community, to actually put together a ‘blight to beauty’ task force, to help improve the conditions of the city to make it more safer,” she said.

When it comes to the future of Avalon Village, Harris says it’s in good hands, specifically those of her two daughters.

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.