Category: CNN Regional

By Adam Thompson

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Baltimore police are investigating a potential hate crime after a note from a white supremacist organization was reportedly found in Fells Point on Friday.

Police said investigators found the note, along with several plastic bags containing rocks, in the 1600 block of Thames Street.

According to The Baltimore Banner, a woman who said she was watering flowers saw the clear plastic bag filled with rocks and a note.

Police told the Banner that the note contained threatening language and mentioned the “Sacred White Knights,” which is a white supremacist group that is primarily based in Pelham, North Carolina.

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 Adam Thompson

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    ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Maryland (WJZ) — The search for a missing swimmer in Rock Creek, a tributary of the Patapsco River, in Anne Arundel County, is now a recovery operation, according to the Natural Resources Police (NPR).

Crews responded around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday to search for a man who jumped from a pontoon boat and never resurfaced. Officials said the man was with other people before he went missing.

Search crews from multiple agencies, including the NPR, Anne Arundel County Fire and Rescue, Baltimore County Fire Department, and the Coast Guard, searched into the evening on Sunday in Rock Creek between Riviera Beach and Fort Smallwood.

“This is probably the third time we’ve had fire down here looking in the water for people this year,” said neighbor Jeffrey Brewus. “This is actually the most I have seen at one time. They must be pretty sure that someone is underwater.”

Sgt. Ron Collier with the Natural Resources Police said crews used grid search, sonars, drones, divers, and helicopters to aid in the search.

The recovery operation will resume on Monday morning, officials said.

Collier said that swimmers should be prepared if they decide to jump into the water.

“Just know the water, know the water temperature, the water depth, the currents,” Collier said. “If you have to jump in the water for anything, have a lifejacket on, don’t just jump in.”

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 Adam Thompson

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Six young men were injured after at least two gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire Sunday evening in South Baltimore, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.

A large police presence responded around 9:45 p.m. to the 2600 block of Hollins Ferry Road, where two people had been shot. Moments later, another gunshot victim was found running to a nearby firehouse.

Then, three more gunshot victims arrived at a hospital.

Police said the victims were between the ages of 17 and 21.

Worley said one victim suffered “very serious” injuries and was in surgery. All six are expected to survive.

Police said the six victims were hanging out when a vehicle pulled up, two people got out, and started shooting.

“All we know is they pulled up to the corner, got out, and just opened fire randomly at the victims,” Worley said. “Looks like just as there was a group of young men standing outside hanging out under a tree on Harmon Ave., a vehicle looks like it pulls up. Two suspects exit the vehicle, fire multiple rounds at our victims, striking all six of them. And then the suspects get back in the car and flee.”

Police closed multiple streets in the area.

No suspect descriptions have been released. Police have not yet said if the shooting was random or targeted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Baltimore police or the Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

According to crime data, there have been 175 non-fatal shootings so far in Baltimore this year, which is the same total as this time last year.

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By Mike Toole

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Boston police are investigating the discovery Saturday of a dead body that was found at a property that is owned by the husband of Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

Police spokesperson James Moccia told CBS News Boston on Saturday that officers were called to a house on Malta Street in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood at 1:52 p.m. “for a report to investigate a person.”

When they arrived, they found the person deceased, Moccia said.

Moccia did not have any further details and said the homicide unit is handling the investigation. A Boston police cruiser was seen outside the home Saturday evening and it was sealed off with red crime scene tape.

On Sunday, police said they have no additional information to add on the death at this time.

According to property records from the city of Boston, Pressley’s husband, Conan Harris, is listed as the owner of the Malta Street home. The property has an assessed value of $919,000.

The two-story, seven bedroom house was built in 1910. Pressley and Harris do not live at the home. It’s a rental property that’s currently for sale. The asking price is $1.15 million.

WBZ-TV reached out to the real estate agent handling the listing, but she has not yet responded with comment.

“The Congresswoman extends her deepest condolences to the impacted family,” a spokesperson for Pressley said in a statement Saturday night.

Pressley, a Democrat, was first elected to Congress in 2018, when she defeated longtime former Rep. Michael Capuano in a primary.

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By Paul Burton

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    CANTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A first-of-its kind rugby fundraiser was held Sunday at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton. The event was organized to help families with kids battling epilepsy, inspired by a brave young girl and her older sister, both who are determined to make a difference.

Twelve-year-old Parker Vitagliano-Hill, a rugby player herself, said her younger sister, 8-year-old Alana, who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of two, is her “whole world.”

The Vitagliano-Hill family obtained a brown chocolate lab medical service dog named Rosie.

“She can actually smell certain types of seizures that Alana’s about to have and give us as her family an extra moment or two to keep her safe,” mother Alicia Vitagliano said.

The purpose of Sunday’s event was to help raise awareness for epilepsy and provide support so kids living in New England with epilepsy can obtain their own seizure alert dog.

It was all inspired by Parker’s love for her sister. WBZ-TV featured Parker and Alana as part of our MVP series.

“She’s done so good in school despite having epilepsy. She’s been an amazing person, friend, family member, everything,” Parker said.

“Parker was very clear that she wants other kids to feel the safety, security and freedom that Rosie allows her sister,” added Alicia.

Word of Parker’s mission reached the passionate World Cup soccer fanbase of Scotland’s Tartan Army, who came to show their support and even had her try on the signature Boston traffic cone. They also participated in the rugby game.

“What an incredible big sister she is to look out for her sister like this and to bring all these people together,” said Danny Campbell of the Tartan Army. “You can be young and still make a massive change.”

The need for these service dogs is huge. The family says Rosie has become big part of their family and want to see other families have the same experience.

“It’s meant a lot. It’s done so much. it’s changed how we live, it’s changed how my sister lives,” Parker said.

The family said the goal is raise $10,000 to help start the grant funding process so people can get the help they need.

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 Katie Houlis

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — For the third day in a row, the New York City Health Department has announced a death in the Upper East Side Legionnaires’ disease cluster.

Health officials say three people have died in connection to the outbreak.

“Our hearts are with their family and friends as they mourn their loss. Out of respect for their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information about their passing,” Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin said in a statement, in part.

The first two deaths were reported on Friday and Saturday.

As of Sunday, a total of 74 Legionnaires’ disease cases have been connected to the cluster, health officials say. Of those 74 patients, three have died, eight are currently hospitalized, 51 have been discharged from the hospital, and 12 did not need to be hospitalized.

“While we continue to investigate cases and closely monitor those in the hospital, we have not identified anyone with new symptoms for more than a week, and we are not seeing any concerning trends in emergency department surveillance data,” Martin said in a statement, in part.

Health officials believe the source of the outbreak – suspected to be water vapor containing live Legionella bacteria from a cooling tower in the area of the 10028, 10075 and 10128 ZIP codes – has been eliminated after they ordered 76 buildings that tested positive for the bacteria to undergo precautionary cleaning.

“We will continue inspecting every cooling tower that tested positive and will hold accountable any owner who fails to comply with our public health laws,” Martin said in a statement, in part.

Anyone who develops flu-like symptoms after spending time in the impacted area is encouraged to seek medical care.

For more information on Legionnaires’ disease, including symptoms and prevention, visit the health department’s website.

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 Zachary Bynum, Anna McAllister

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A 14-year-old boy is hospitalized after being pulled from a swimming pool at a Lauderhill apartment complex Sunday, marking the latest in what officials describe as an alarming increase in child drowning and near-drowning incidents across South Florida.

Lauderhill Fire Rescue responded to Sunny Lake Apartments after reports that a child had been pulled from the water. The teenager was rushed to the hospital.

His condition has not been released.

The incident comes as South Florida continues to experience a troubling string of water emergencies involving children.

According to CBS News Miami reporting, there have been at least six drowning or near-drowning incidents involving children across South Florida over the past month, many of them in Broward County.

Sunday’s rescue also happened at the same apartment complex where another near-drowning was reported last year.

Among the recent tragedies CBS News Miami has reported:

– On July 5, a 4-year-old drowned in a lake in Plantation. – Just four days later, another child drowned in Plantation. – On July 12, North Lauderdale Fire Rescue rescued a 2-year-old boy who was found drowning in a swimming pool. The child was reported to be in critical condition. – Just six days later, a 4-year-old boy was taken to the hospital in critical after a near drowning.

The latest rescue has renewed concerns among first responders, who say many of these incidents are preventable.

Officials continue to urge parents and caregivers to closely supervise children around water, install appropriate pool barriers and enroll children in swim lessons as early as possible.

“We are unfortunately seeing a trend in these tragedies and near tragedies here in South Florida,” CBS News Miami’s Anna McAllister reported from the scene Sunday.

To help address the problem, Florida offers vouchers that can help families pay for swim lessons, part of an effort to reduce child drownings across the state. Information about the program is available on the CBS News Miami website.

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for young children, making constant supervision and water safety education critical during South Florida’s year-round swimming season.

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By Nick Lentz, Stacey DuFord, Ahmad Bajjey

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued a statewide air quality alert for Sunday due to wildfire smoke forecast to move through the state.

The alert is in effect Saturday for the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula due to smoke and will expand statewide on Sunday.

A cold front moved through Southeast Michigan on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a brief improvement in air quality in the area, but cooler, drier air behind the system is pulling wildfire smoke with it.

Air quality on Sunday will range from unhealthy for sensitive groups across the Lower Peninsula to unhealthy in the Upper Peninsula, according to the National Weather Service.

CBS News Detroit has declared Sunday a NEXT Weather Alert Day due to the expected poor air quality. Similar conditions could warrant the designation Monday.

High temperatures in Southeast Michigan will be in the 70s and 80s on Sunday.

Federal officials recommend that people keep windows closed overnight to keep smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with filters that have a minimum efficiency reporting value of 13 or higher.

Dr. Abeer Berry, a cardiologist at Huron Valley Hospital, says anyone with preexisting health conditions has to be especially careful around air pollution.

“If you have an underlying heart disease, you’re being exposed to air pollution, which increases inflammation both in your lungs and heart. So, it puts you at higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke, accelerates plaque buildup in your arteries and it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. And those play a big role in whether or not you’re creating a perfect environment for a cardiovascular event,” Berry said.

Metro Detroit had the worst air quality in the world early Thursday, resulting in numerous disruptions to community events and programs, including outdoor events.

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By Matthew Ablon

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    BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas (KTVT) — The boxing community is in mourning after a prominent competitor was reportedly hit and killed by a driver in Texas over the weekend.

The Brazos County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 10 a.m. on Saturday to the 23000 block of FM 159, near the community of Navasota. Deputies arrived and found 26-year-old Hannah Rapp lying on the roadway, with initial reports indicating a vehicle had hit her. First responders provided emergency care prior to transporting her to a nearby hospital. Rapp, however, died of her injuries.

During the investigation, Brazos County deputies said they learned Rapp and another bicyclist were on the road when 31-year-old Charles Medina drove past them. However, the sheriff’s office said Medina then stopped his vehicle, shifted into reverse, and hit Rapp. He was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Brazos County is located about 80 miles northwest of Houston.

ESPN notes that Rapp was a rising star in the ring, having challenged for the World Boxing Council’s featherweight championship this past June. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman mourned Rapp’s death in a statement shared online.

“The loss of Hannah Rapp leaves us heartbroken. She was an exceptional boxer, but above all, an invaluable member of our boxing family. We join in the grief of her loved ones, her team, and all those who had the privilege of knowing and supporting her throughout her brilliant career,” the statement reads.

The World Boxing Association also shared a tribute to Rapp on X.

CBS affiliate KBTX-TV in College Station notes that Rapp moved to the area in 2024 from her native Indiana. She had been boxing for less than five years and balanced training with her job at Texas A&M.

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.