Category: CNN Regional

By Erin Jones

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    CARROLLTON, Texas (KTVT) — Nearly two weeks have passed since 19-year-old Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales of Carrollton was killed while serving overseas.

Before the community says its final goodbye Saturday, Jeep owners from across North Texas are coming together to make sure her family knows they’re not alone.

For the LoKos Jeep Club, honoring those who served means standing with the families they leave behind. Many members are military veterans, making that mission personal.

“It’s just to show respect … respect and to make sure that the family knows the community is there for them,” Usiel Cruz said.

On Saturday, members of multiple North Texas Jeep clubs are expected to line part of Gonzales’ funeral procession route near Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Just a year ago, the 19-year-old Carrollton native graduated from Hebron High School before heading to basic training. On July 17, she was killed during an Iranian attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan.

“As a veteran, I mean it … it hits hard,” David Buckland said. “I was in during Desert Storm, Desert Shield. I stayed stateside. I didn’t have to go over, but I have a lot of brothers and sisters in arms that were either affected by war, or you know died in war.”

Buckland, an Air Force veteran and club member, says Gonzales’ death hits especially close to home because he’s from Carrollton.

“Hebron is one of my kids’ archrivals,” he said. “My wife is a substitute teacher for Carrollton Farmers Branch. As a parent, I don’t even know the words to describe … other than we’re here for you. Hopefully, the family realizes that not only the community, but the Jeep community is there for them.”

“We want to be there to support,” Cruz 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 Shardaa Gray

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    CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — Grant Park was filled with tens of thousands of people Thursday for the start of Lollapalooza, as warm weather greeted festivalgoers on day one of the four-day music festival.

Thursday’s headliners are Lorde and John Summit, and several fans told CBS News Chicago that Summit is a favorite. Summit, a Naperville native, will take the main stage Thursday night for night one of the festival. Leckie, B96’s afternoon host, predicted it will be a historic performance for the Chicagoland native.

“He’s from Naperville and all the kids are coming out, including me,” Leckie said. “I’m super young.”

More than 100,000 people are expected at Grant Park each day of the festival, with fans traveling from across the country to see their favorite performers. Maddy Haver and Hailey Wolf traveled from Ohio.

“We love Chicago. We love music. We love everything that has to do with this festival,” Haver said.

“The lineup and the city,” said Wolf, who also traveled from Ohio. “We just love being in Chicago, and a lot of good artists are playing this year.”

The four-day festival also features headliners Olivia Dean and the Smashing Pumpkins, along with dozens of other artists.

“I’m a DJ myself, so I’m looking forward to Boyz Noize, Kettama,” said Anna Soroaka, who is excited to see this year’s DJ lineup.

When the gates opened at 11 a.m., festivalgoers rushed in to grab their preferred spot. Security was tight at all entrances, and signs posted around the park warned that fence-jumpers would be prosecuted.

With large crowds, summer heat and a chance of rain in the forecast, experts say festivalgoers should stay hydrated, eat regularly and keep their phones charged.

“Hydration pack — so it’s essential,” said Lavin, a Skokie resident. “You can’t bring it in with water because they’re going to flag you, but there is a hydration station. That’s where I’m going to fill it up. I’m going to stay hydrated, and I’m going to be ready, because you don’t want to be dehydrated.”

Experts also recommend having a plan to reconnect with friends in case anyone gets separated in the crowd.

“Yeah, we’re just going to stay together,” Lavin said. “My mom said you have to come with the people who you left with.”

If you’re heading to the festival, pack light, drink plenty of water and keep an eye on the weather, especially this weekend.

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 Elle Meyers

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    INGHAM COUNTY, Michigan (WWJ) — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the care and sheer number of violations against a Southeast Michigan nursing home operator “atrocious.”

“We allege that Fahim Uddin, a major nursing home owner operating Pioneer Healthcare Management Inc, knowingly and intentionally placed hundreds of patients at risk of harm while operating related companies in order to enrich himself,” Nessel said.

The case centers on the Michigan Medicaid False Claim Act and what Nessel calls “failure to care.”

“[That’s when] a nursing home or nursing home owner and operator is knowingly providing care which is so substandard that it fails to meet even the most minimally required standards for Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement despite submitted claims stating otherwise,” Nessel said.

Nessel alleges that Fahim Uddin and his companies accepted more than $111 million in Medicaid reimbursement and failed to meet minimal staffing requirements nearly 100% of the time across its nine facilities.

“Each claim for payments submitted while the defendants violated the staffing, reporting, and cost reporting requirement was a false claim in violation of state law,” Nessel said.

According to Nessel, that harm wasn’t just paperwork errors. She says this level of care led to injuries, wounds on patients, and even elderly patients leaving facilities in an unsafe way.

“At Heritage Manor in Detroit, a 64-year-old resident was found by staff, by shift staff, on the floor face down with blood all around his head, unresponsive and cold,” Nessel said.

The nine care homes listed below are still operating — but Nessel said we could see new ownership take over care.

In the meantime, the case against Uddin is being held in the 30th District Court in Ingham County.

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 Joseph Buczek

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    MACOMB COUNTY, Michigan (WWJ) — Several people were injured in a boat explosion and fire in a Macomb County marina on Lake St. Clair Thursday afternoon, local authorities said.

The explosion and fire happened around 1:10 p.m. Thursday at the gas pumps at Tow Boat USA on South River Road in Harrison Township.

According to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, several people were injured, and at least three people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion, but say there is no indication that foul play was involved.

“The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to the dockhands and Tow Boat USA employees who acted quickly to assist passengers off the vessel and away from the scene,” the sheriff’s office said.

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By Frankie McLister

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    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (WCCO) — Six months ago, U.S. Border Patrol agents killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in south Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge.

Only on WCCO, we’re hearing from his parents, Susan and Michael Pretti, through attorney Steven Schleicher about the investigation into their son’s death.

Schleicher called this investigation “an absolute nightmare.” He said the Pretti family still has no information about who killed their son.

The video of his killing was watched across the world, sparking community outcry, grief, sadness and frustration.

“For the family, every single day without answers is a nightmare,” Schleicher said. “It’s painful and, frankly, it’s cruel.”

Schleicher says the investigation has been more hurtful than most people could even begin to imagine.

“Learning not only that their son was murdered, but that people were telling lies about him,” Schleicher said.

Schleicher was a top federal prosecutor during the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis in May 2020.

“I saw state and federal authorities working together,” he said.

Schleicher says he doesn’t know why there isn’t that cooperation now.

“I don’t think there is a good explanation for why that isn’t happening,” he said. “When I met with Dan Rosen, the United States attorney, he would neither confirm or deny that any information was shared or provide any meaningful information to the family.”

Although Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her investigators now have access to hard drives and body-worn cameras, Schleicher says he doesn’t need those new views to see what happened.

“It was a cellphone. He was holding a cellphone. He was recording his cellphone, his other hand was empty,” Schleicher said.

After the deadly shooting, now-former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism. Schleicher said he hasn’t spoken with her since.

“A very high office to spread these lies about them is painful,” Schleicher said. “What the Prettis want is to quietly grieve their son, but they’re not allowed to do that.”

WCCO reached out to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI, which both declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office gave this statement to WCCO Thursday: “Our analysis of the evidence continues, and we’re committed to being transparent about our decision when it’s reached.”

Susan Pretti released a statement last week to mark six months since the shooting, saying in part, “six months of pain, a rollercoaster of trauma over and over.”

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By Ryan Hughes

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    GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (KYW) — Thieves are smashing windows and targeting trading card stores looking for valuable Pokémon cards, and two stores have now been hit in South Jersey, police said.

Surveillance video shows a pair of thieves using a hammer to smash the glass to burst into Lurk Cards and Collectibles in Gloucester Township. Then, they make a beeline to the back wall looking for popular Pokémon cards.

“It was all a matter of five minutes before they came in, came out, and they were gone,” said Julian Salugao, manager at the store on Berlin-Cross Keys Road.

The theft happened around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Salugao received an alert as the thieves were rummaging through shelves, and he said the pair got away with $1,000 to $2,000 in Pokémon merchandise.

“There’s many stores all over N.J. and all over the country just getting robbed over cardboard in a sense. There is a lot of value to it,” said Salugao, who showed CBS Philadelphia a sealed Pikachu card worth about $1,300.

“It’s the same MO, it’s two guys masked up with long sleeves, long pants,” Frank Romean said.

Frank’s Card Shop in Washington Township was also targeted. Romean said thieves broke his windows and display case on July 1 before stealing a stash of Pokémon cards.

“So, all told, they probably got away with 10 to 12 cards and 10 to 12 boxes totaling around $10,000 in value,” Romean said.

Romean says he believes the same pair came back again nine days later, but they were unable to get inside after he made safety upgrades at his store.

“We have a lot more cameras in here, we have motion detectors, we have glass break detectors,” he said.

Washington Township Police said an arrest warrant has been issued for 31-year-old Rafael Gordian, of Philadelphia, in connection with the burglary at Frank’s, but officers are still looking for him.

Both Frank’s and Lurk Cards are taking steps to protect their stores, including emptying all display cases at the end of the day.

“We just want this to be solved and really prevent it from happening to anyone else,” Salugao said.

Gloucester Township Police said they are investigating whether the two cases are connected. They are also looking into other similar thefts in Philly that they believe could also be connected.

Meanwhile, officers in Gloucester Township have increased patrols around local card stores.

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By Shelley Bortz

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    BUTLER COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Two youth coaches who spent years mentoring children are now being remembered for the lives they touched after a devastating crash in Butler County.

Investigators said 38-year-old Cody Huffman of Harmony and 45-year-old Garrett Griffin of Cranberry died after their SUV slammed into a tree and burst into flames on Beacon Road in Penn Township on July 25. Investigators said Huffman died at the scene, while Griffin later died at a local hospital.

As investigators continue working to determine what caused the crash, those who knew Huffman and Griffin are remembering the lives they poured into young athletes. Between them, they spent years coaching baseball, football and basketball throughout the Seneca Valley community.

In a message to the community, Seneca Valley Raiders Baseball wrote on its Facebook page that the two were “much more than coaches. They were devoted husbands, loving fathers, mentors and role models who made a lasting difference in the lives of countless young athletes.”

The organization is also asking the community to keep both families in their thoughts and prayers and to continue surrounding them with love and support in the days and months ahead.

On Thursday, a neighbor told KDKA-TV that she heard the crash from her patio and described it as a sound she’ll “never forget.”

“We heard a short screech and an explosion,” neighbor Paula Grubbs said. “If it hadn’t been for the screech, I would have thought a house exploded, or someone was shooting Tannerite. It was so loud, and we felt the percussion.”

She said she immediately ran through her yard and straight toward Beacon Road, where she saw an SUV wrapped around a tree, with flames already beginning to spread. As the flames grew, she said neighbors began running from their homes.

“My neighbor had a fire extinguisher, and I had a fire blanket,” Grubbs said. “She jumped in my car, and we flew down there with that equipment. The man whose house it happened at ran and grabbed it and started trying to smash the window to get to the people.”

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the crash. Meanwhile, GoFundMe pages have been created to help both families as the community rallies around the wives, children and loved ones left behind.

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By Christopher DeRose

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    ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — What would you do if you won over a million dollars? It’s a fun question to think about, but it is a question that 86-year-old Rita Franczyk now has to consider.

On Sunday, July 19, at the Giant Eagle in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Franczyk bought a $30 scratch-off ticket that made her a millionaire.

“I knew what it said, but I thought, ‘nah,'” Franczyk said. “I took it to the desk, to the clerk and she said, ‘Rita!’ And she had a tear. She cared that much that I won. That was so nice of her. So, we are both having tears. I called my daughter, ‘I’m a millionaire! I won a million dollars!'”

Franczyk says this was her second time playing the new Super Star scratch-off game. The first time she played it, she won $50.

This grandmother of three and great-grandmother of seven says she is grateful for the $1.5 million prize. And since her husband died a few years ago, Franczyk says she’s been living with her daughter and her family.

But now, she’s thinking it’s about time they all get a living upgrade.

“I would like to make a new residence for possibly her and her husband and me, if they’d like to come,” said Franczyk. “I would like to buy a ranch-type, small, average home and move.”

And when asked if she had any advice to lottery players out there who may be on the fence about trying a new game, Franczyk laughed and said, “Take the chance. It’s worth it.”

Franczyk says that just because she won big on this ticket, she’s not going to stop playing the lottery. She anticipates buying more scratch-offs, and who knows, maybe her luck will hold.

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 Ashley Paul

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    WESTMINSTER, Maryland (WJZ) — Maryland health officials are warning swimmers about the presence of flesh-eating bacteria in the Chesapeake Bay.

There have been 29 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus — a flesh-eating bacteria — so far this year in Maryland waters, along with nearly 100 probable cases, according to Dr. Clifford Mitchell, the Director of the Environmental Health Bureau in the Maryland Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria thrive in warmer temperatures and can infect people through an open wound or by consuming contaminated shellfish, such as oysters or clams.

“So the bacteria is called Vibrio vulnificus. It is a gram-negative rod bacterium that naturally lives in marine environments and ecosystems,” said Dr. Cassandra Black, an infectious disease doctor with Carroll Hospital.

Doctors say the number of cases in Maryland is on par with last year but has increased compared to several years ago.

“Typically, we do see some up and down from year to year,” Dr. Mitchell said. “There are a lot of factors that go into that. How warm it is, how warm the bay waters get, how much people are recreating in the ocean, or the bay, and a number of other factors, as well.”

The Maryland Department of Health recommends people cover any open wounds with waterproof bandages before getting in the water, and if you suspect you might have Vibrio, to seek medical attention immediately.

But they say, don’t let it ruin your summer. The odds of contracting the bacteria are low.

“We want people to get out and enjoy the, you know, the beaches of Maryland and the shellfish and the other produce of Maryland,” Dr. Mitchell said. “We just want them to do so in a safe fashion, and with full knowledge of the risks that may be present when they’re doing that.”

What are the common symptoms of a Vibrio infection? The CDC says common symptoms of a Vibrio infection include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, redness, pain, warmth, discoloration, or discharge.

The CDC says Vibrio vulnificus can cause severe and potentially life-threatening infections if not treated. If untreated, it can lead to amputation or even death.

How to prevent exposure to a Vibrio infection Dr. Black says there are some things you can do to prevent exposure.

“If you are exposed to water, to an opened wound, then it should be cleansed immediately with saline, sterile saline, or fresh water, and even some mild soap and water,” Dr. Black said. “And then for the food-borne part of it, would avoid eating raw oysters if you’re able to, or making sure that the shellfish is well cooked.”

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.