Black bear sightings causing a stir in Massachusetts town

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Mary Saladna

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    CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Wildlife experts are urging residents in one Massachusetts town to exercise caution following multiple black bear sightings.

A bear has been spotted repeatedly this week in Chelmsford’s Westlands neighborhood, surprising many residents.

“I just looked at my neighbor’s house, and there’s just this big furry pillow lounging and sitting next to that maple tree,” said Tom Salowsky, who has lived in the neighborhood for years.

Salowsky was able to snap a selfie with the bear, from a safe distance, of course.

“Very docile, it was just munching on seed,” he said. “It was incredible — I mean, to the point that I got a selfie with it, at what? 15, 20 feet? Yeah, that’s pretty cool.”

Salowsky sent the photo to his wife, Amanda, who was at work.

“All of a sudden he turned the FaceTime, and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me?'” she said. “And he’s like, ‘Can you believe it?'”

The bear’s presence excited the whole family, including their dog Sox, who Salowsky said had been acting unusually during walks in recent days.

“Just making aggressive lunges and excitement I haven’t seen since he was a puppy,” he said.

The bear, which has tags on its ears, is likely being tracked by the state.

According to MassWildlife experts, bears are actively searching for outdoor food sources at this time of year.

Residents are advised to take in bird feeders, secure garbage and compost, and protect any livestock. They are also advised to give the animals space.

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.

Boston dogs strut their stuff in Halloween costume parade

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Tim Nazzaro

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Halloween has gone to the dogs in Boston, Massachusetts.

More than 150 furry friends participated in the 12th annual Doggone Halloween Costume Parade in Downtown Crossing on Saturday.

Costumes included classics like Woody from Toy Story, Spider-dog, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

NewsCenter 5’s Rhondella Richardson hosted the event and spoke with one of the winners, who dressed her dogs, Sasha and Ivy, as a Cookie Monster Cafe.

“The inspiration was a KitchenAid and then we wanted to dress it up a little bit, so we did like a spooky KitchenAid,” said Shanize Perez. “It’s fun. It’s something to do with the dogs that they can participate in.”

The categories included best costume, scariest costume, best dog and human duo, cutest costume, and best dog and child costume.

Each category came with its own special prize, including a Raising Cane’s gift basket.

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Man charged with OUI after truck crashes into home

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Tim Nazzaro

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    SWANSEA, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A man is facing charges for crashing his pickup truck into a porch in Swansea, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon.

Douglas McLane, 45, of Swansea, was charged with operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and a marked lanes violation.

The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. at 1228 Grand Army of the Republic Highway.

According to the Swansea Police Department, McLane was driving a gray 2022 Toyota Tacoma on Route 6 when, for reasons still under investigation, the truck left the roadway and struck the home’s porch and foundation.

Hearst OwnedSwansea Police Department Surveillance video shows the truck swerving off the roadway and crashing through a fence before hitting the home.

The truck’s airbags deployed due to the force of the crash, according to police.

Responding officers were concerned about a possible gas leak and quickly removed McLane from the vehicle.

He was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital for evaluation and was later placed under arrest.

No people were inside the home at the time of the crash, but a dog was. The dog was uninjured and returned to the homeowner.

The structure was deemed unsafe to occupy by investigators.

The truck was towed from the scene, and it’s unclear when the residents will be able to return to the home.

The crash remains under investigation.

Liberty Utilities responded to the scene to address the gas leak.

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Woman accused in multi-million-dollar THC operation held on $20 million bond

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Rachael Perry

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — A Florida woman accused of co-owning a multi-million-dollar THC operation is being held on a $20 million bond, according to investigators.

Authorities say the business operated warehouses in Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas, including one in Delray Beach, to package and ship THC products to customers across the country. Casey Smith, named by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office as the co-owner and former managing member of Not Your Bakery LLC, appeared in court Friday with her attorney.

Palm Beach County deputies arrest alleged shooter and getaway driver in Belle Glade homicide “Based on reading this, it seems to me that the other co-defendants were essentially running everything,” Smith’s attorney said.

Smith is facing charges including money laundering and organized fraud. Investigators allege the company was used to process money from illegal drug sales and sold highly concentrated THC products, generating more than $31 million in 2024 and 2025 while reporting only a fraction of that amount to the state.

Court records show that a 1,100-pound shipment of THC hemp products intercepted in Oklahoma helped bring the operation under scrutiny.

“She had no involvement at all with the manufacturing or distribution of drugs. She essentially paid the vendors and paid out the money to wherever it needed to be distributed,” Smith’s attorney said.

Three individuals, including Smith, are named in the 77-page court filing. Prosecutors pushed for a $20 million bond, while Smith’s attorney argued for a significantly lower amount.

“My understanding was 200k, which frankly I still think is too high,” Smith’s attorney said.

The judge ultimately ordered Smith to be held on a $20 million bond.

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1982 Brewers bat boy’s missing World Series jacket has been in the hands of a stranger in Portland, Oregon since 2008; this week, it returned home

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Kathryn Merck

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    PORTLAND, Oregon (WDJT) — In baseball, the most important things make it home. That couldn’t be more true for Steve Froemming’s 1982 Brewers bat boy jacket he wore during the World Series 44 years ago.

Mark Trader from Portland, Oregon reached out to CBS 58’s Kathryn Merck on Instagram to say he made a recent discovery that linked his vintage Brewers jacket and the 1982 team. Trader said he found the jacket at a bar in 2008 when he was a student at UW-Madison.

“There was someone who left a beautiful Brewers jacket on a barstool, and I kind of swiped that thing,” Trader said. “I’ve had it for 15 years now.”

Over the years, the jacket labeled with the name ‘Steve’ on the front of it had become a bit at parties for Trader and his friends while the real ‘Steve’ remained a mystery. While shopping at a vintage shop in Green Bay last month, he found a photo of the 1982 team, with Steve Froemming.

“It gave me the clue that I needed to unlock the mystery,” Trader said.

Trader looked online to find out more about Froemming and found two CBS 58 articles. One with his father, legendary MLB umpire Bruce Froemming, during the 2025 postseason run for the Brew Crew. The other, when CBS 58 first reported that Bruce had died in February.

CBS 58 connected the two men who currently live over 2,500 miles apart through a Zoom call.

“I learned a little bit about your family, Steve,” Trader said on the Zoom. “It just became very clear that it was time for your jacket to go back.”

Trader shipped the jacket to Froemming, who currently lives in Tennessee. Froemming said he gave the jacket away at some point after the 1982 World Series.

“I truly do not remember who I gave it to,” Froemming said. “This was the jacket I wore in 1982, during the World Series.”

Thankful for the return, Froemming offered Trader the chance to sit with him at the 50-yard line at a Packers game this season.

“This was one of the most generous gifts, if not the most generous gift, that was provided to me. With the legacy and the history of not only the Brewers, but the family being in baseball,” Froemming said. “It’s something I had the entire season, of course, and it is very special to me.”

Froemming attended Game 1 of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field and says he wore the jacket. He plans to fly to Tampa and wear it there, too.

“It’s all like a dream right now. It’s like, pinch me, is it really happening? And it is,” Froemming 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.

Des Moines car show raises support for family of teen killed in Indianola

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By KCCI staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A car show and benefit Sunday raised nearly $6,500 for the family of Trenton Snodgrass, a 17-year-old killed in a crash in Indianola.

Police said Snodgrass was struck by a vehicle in Indianola on Sept. 27 and died at the scene. The driver was a 15-year-old from Ankeny. The Iowa State Patrol took over the investigation.

Snodgrass was an Indianola High School student who played football, wearing the #59 jersey. His family said he hoped to take over their contracting business, stay on the family farm and build homes there for his sisters. His mother called him “our everything” and said he hugged and kissed her every day, telling her, “I love you most.”

The event at Big Mama’s Flea Market on East 16th Street included auctions, a raffle and a barbecue dinner. Community members donated food, auction and raffle items, and trophies.

The funds are intended to help cover funeral expenses, but use is up to the family’s discretion.

Brad Wheeler, owner of Big Mama’s and Big Boyz Treasures, said people from across the car community donated items, food and trophies for the event.

“There was a tragedy in Indianola, so we stepped up,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said Snodgrass had attended car shows before. Cadillac Sarah, another organizer, said it was “nice to be able to see everybody come together for the Snodgrasses and for Trenton.”

Sarah said she was inspired to help because a stranger covered funeral expenses when her own daughter, Aleena, died in a tragic incident 14 years ago.

“I feel like no parent should have to pay for their child’s funeral,” she said. “Somebody stepped up and took that burden off of me. I would like to take that burden from them.”

Donations are still being collected at Big Mama’s and Big Boyz Treasures. They can also be sent to the family on this GoFundMe, Meal Train, or through Venmo to @julie-snodgrass-13.

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Des Moines moms raise Down Syndrome awareness through podcast

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Savannah Lee

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    WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (KCCI) — October marks Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to recognize the estimated half-million Americans living with Down syndrome and highlight the importance of inclusion.

In the Des Moines area, two mothers are working to change the way people view the diagnosis, one conversation at a time.

Amber Robinson and Patty Sneddon-Kisting are the mothers of 9-year-olds Addie and Pierce, who share more than their age and the experience of growing up with two siblings. Both children have Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

But their diagnosis is only one part of who they are.

“They are amazing, resilient, wonderful pains in the butts,” Sneddon-Kisting said.

For Robinson and Sneddon-Kisting, a Down syndrome diagnosis introduced them to a community they had not previously known existed.

The two met at GiGi’s Playhouse in Windsor Heights, a nonprofit organization that provides free educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

The nonprofit is a place where families can find support, share challenges and connect with others navigating similar experiences.

“It’s really a place for us just to come and share the hard that comes with it,” Robinson said. “It’s just really been a safety net for us and our family to know that we’re not alone in this.”

That sense of community inspired the two mothers to expand their support system beyond the walls of GiGi’s Playhouse.

They launched the podcast “Chromosomes & Chaos” to give families and listeners a place to find relatability in the unknown and realize they are not alone in their experiences.

The podcast explores the realities of family life and raising children with Down syndrome, embracing both the challenges and the moments worth celebrating.

“We want to be open and let people feel their feelings and have a resource where they can come to share the good that comes with Down syndrome and not always the bad,” Robinson said.

“Everybody has something to navigate,” Sneddon-Kisting said. “I think that’s the beauty of bringing something like our podcast to social media, is that people can say, ‘Oh, I’m not weird.’”

After just one year, “Chromosomes & Chaos” has accumulated thousands of downloads, reaching listeners through honest conversations about parenting, relationships and the craziness of everyday life.

“We encourage people to just live in the moment and give a lot of grace and keep going,” Sneddon-Kisting said.

They also hope to change how people respond when a family receives a Down syndrome diagnosis.

“When somebody says they got a diagnosis, say congratulations,” Sneddon-Kisting said. “Feel the feelings, navigate those feelings; feelings are valid, but say congratulations.”

For Addie, Pierce and their families, Down syndrome is part of their story, but it does not define the whole picture.

Through GiGi’s Playhouse and “Chromosomes & Chaos,” Robinson and Sneddon-Kisting are helping build a community that recognizes the challenges while celebrating the people, personalities and love that make up everyday life.

Listeners can find “Chromosomes & Chaos” on podcast platforms. More information about programs and opportunities to get involved with GiGi’s Playhouse Des Moines is available at gigisplayhouse.org/desmoines.

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Woman accused of driving under the influence, using child as shield after school bus chase

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Stephanie Moore

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    NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina (WYFF) — A South Carolina woman who led authorities on a chase in a school bus is accused of using her young son as a shield when she eventually stopped for authorities.

The North Charleston Police Department said just before 3:30 p.m. on Thursday it got an alert that a school bus was traveling along Palmetto Commerce Parkway in an erratic manner.

The bus had reportedly nearly struck another vehicle, and the driver, later identified as Shakira Jones, was suspected of being impaired.

Officers found the bus and saw it traveling at approximately 65 mph in a posted 45 mph zone.

Police also reported that Jones made an improper turn onto Ashley Phosphate Road, followed by four improper and multiple erratic lane changes.

Officers activated their emergency lights and sirens on Ashley Phosphate Road.

However, after turning onto Peppermill Parkway, police said Jones accelerated rapidly and failed to stop as officers pursued it with emergency lights and sirens activated.

The bus stopped briefly before Mill Ridge Lane, prompting officers to attempt a high-risk traffic stop and issue commands over a public-address system. They said Jones then made an erratic right turn toward Stall High School.

Police said the bus stopped a second time, and officers again issued verbal commands.

Although Jones initially placed the bus in park, she then shifted back into drive moments later and accelerated into a parking lot where school staff were present, police said. Staff members reportedly had to take evasive action to avoid the bus and pursuing officers.

After the bus came to a final stop, officers continued issuing commands, but Jones refused to exit, according to police. Assisting officers were eventually able to see Jones.

Police said Jones placed a child in front of her in an apparent attempt to shield herself from officers. Officers safely removed the child and tried to take Jones into custody. After a brief struggle, she was arrested, authorities said.

Investigators later determined that the child aboard the bus was Jones’ son. He was eventually turned over to a relative.

During the investigation, officers reportedly found a bottle of prescribed amphetamines among Jones’ personal belongings within arm’s reach of the driver’s seat.

Police said Jones consented to standardized field sobriety tests, and the officer who administered them concluded that there was probable cause that she had been driving while impaired.

Jones was transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center and charged with Failure to Stop for Blue Lights and Sirens, Driving Under the Influence, and Child Endangerment.

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Giant $1,500 Halloween pumpkin decoration stolen from California farm

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Denzen Cortez

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    LOOMIS, California (KCRA) — A family-owned pumpkin patch in Loomis is hoping to recover a giant inflatable jack-o’-lantern stolen just days before Halloween.

Archer and Annie Lombardi, owners of Solstice Farm along Horseshoe Bar Road, said the decoration, affectionately named “Jackie O,” was stolen Sunday, Oct. 18, about 30 minutes after the farm closed.

Surveillance video from a neighboring home shows a vehicle parked near the farm around 9:36 p.m. for approximately five minutes before driving away. The footage helped neighbors pinpoint when the theft occurred.

Archer Lombardi said whoever took the inflatable cut its securing ropes before making off with it.

The pumpkin, estimated to stand about 10 feet tall, was one of two giant jack-o’-lanterns at the farm. Jackie O served as a roadside landmark, helping visitors locate the small pumpkin patch.

“People know where we are located so they can come by and be like, ‘Oh, you know, it’s just turn right after the big pumpkin,'” Annie Lombardi said.

The family said the inflatable was custom-made and imported for approximately $1,500. Replacing it would take at least 45 days, according to Archer Lombardi.

Neighbors have since rallied around the family, sharing the theft on community social media pages and calling for “Justice for Jackie.”

Despite the financial loss, the Lombardis said they would prefer to have the decoration returned rather than involve law enforcement.

“Just bring Jackie O home, and there’ll be no questions asked,” Archer Lombardi said.

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Victim was dragged by car after driver struck group of bicyclists, killing 2 in Montclair

CNN Newsource on October 26, 2026

By Madison Weil, Tim Pulliam

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    MONTCLAIR, California (KABC) — A suspected drunk driver struck a group of bicyclists during a Halloween ride in Montclair Saturday night, killing two people and dragging one victim before fleeing, according to witnesses.

The incident unfolded just before 11 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Kingsley Street and Tudor Avenue, according to the Montclair Police Department.

About 30 people were riding bicycles when a suspected drunk driver struck several of the riders and took off. Witnesses say the group was participating in a self-coordinated Halloween ride.

The driver kept going after hitting the bicyclists, dragging the second victim for at least a mile, according to witnesses. The suspect then ditched his blood-stained car and ran away.

One bicyclist died at the scene. Two others were taken to the hospital, where one of them later succumbed to her injuries, police said. The other rider suffered major injuries but is in stable condition.

Just hours after the deadly collision, police found the driver at his home near the scene. Valentin Alberto Rodriguez, 38, was arrested on suspicion of several charges, including driving under the influence.

Rodriguez now faces several felonies, including hit-and-run and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

As the sun set Sunday, balloons and candles continued to accumulate at the crash site, marking the spot where a festive Halloween bike ride ended in tragedy. Neighbors and loved ones gathered to mourn the victims and support their families.

Winni Mercado lives nearby and said she heard the aftermath of the crash; loved ones crying and wailing over a victim’s body on the pavement.

“It was just awful. It was just awful. I know that I will never get that sound out of my head. Just feeling that pain,” she said.

Neighbors and loved ones are left grieving.

“My heart breaks for you. I can’t fathom or imagine what they’re going through right now…on something that was so innocent. Just kids having fun. My prayers are with them,” Mercado said.

Anyone with further information about the collision is urged to contact the Montclair Police Department at (909) 621-4771.

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