Category: CNN Regional

By Brooklyn Joyner

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    VICKSBURG, Alabama (WVTM) — A Vicksburg family is calling their 5-year-old boy a hero after he alerted them to a dangerous house fire that destroyed their home just two days after Thanksgiving.

Ranajai Hill may be shy — often hiding behind his hair and speaking softly to strangers — but when it mattered most, he acted with extraordinary bravery.

Ranajai was sitting on the couch watching TV early Saturday morning while most of his family slept. That’s when he noticed heat coming from nearby flames.

“He said he just saw the fire come up, and he went and got his grandmother,” said Jennifer Smith, his Gigi.

In the home at the time were Ranajai’s grandmother, his little sister, two uncles, and Ranajai himself. Thanks to his quick warning, all five escaped safely, wearing only the clothes they had on.

The Vicksburg Fire Department says the fire started from a gas space heater and declared the home a total loss.

“To me, it was very devastating losing everything that you have, that you’ve worked hard for,” Smith said.

But through the devastation, Smith says she’s overwhelmingly grateful — especially when she considers how differently the morning could have ended.

“I’m so proud of him,” she said. “Without him being the brave hero he was, it could have been worse. I don’t even want to explain.”

Although Ranajai is a boy of few words, his Gigi says his compassion for others is what makes him shine — and what helped save his family.

Ranajai’s family has created a GoFundMe to help replace essentials and clothing lost in the fire as they work to rebuild.

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By Adam Bartow

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    FALMOUTH, Maine (WMTW) — Maine Operation Game Thief is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction in a major theft from an oyster farm in Falmouth.

Maine Marine Patrol says, on Nov. 22, Michael Scafuro of Portland went to check his aquaculture site near The Brothers Islands in Casco Bay when he discovered 14 aquaculture cages and 40,000 oysters, many of which were ready for sale, were missing. The cages and oysters are worth nearly $20,000.

Marine Patrol searched the area at the time to determine if the gear could have broken free of the anchors that hold it in place, but none of the gear was found. Marine Patrol says the rope, anchors and buoys that hold the gear in place were still on the site, but the cages in which the oysters are held during cultivation and the oysters in them were missing.

“This is a devastating situation for a small businessman like Mr. Scafuro, especially as we head into the holidays,” said Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair. “It can take years to grow oysters to market size, so he has lost that investment of time and money in addition to his valuable equipment and the income from the sale of these oysters.”

You can submit an anonymous tip either online at maineogt.org/report-a-violation, or by phone at 800-ALERT-US (800-253-7887).

The penalty for theft of property valued over $10,000 in Maine is a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

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By Alyse Jones

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A memorial has been established in Oklahoma City to honor 6-year-old Adrian Salgado, who was tragically hit and killed by a school bus while walking home from Fillmore Elementary School.

The accident occurred at a stop sign on Southwest 51st Street, where Salgado attempted to run across the street and was struck by the side of the bus, according to police.

His friends remained on the sidewalk during the incident.

The community has been deeply affected by the loss, with people leaving flowers, toys, and notes at the memorial site. A note from Salgado’s best friend reads, “Fly high Adrian.”

Oklahoma City Public Schools expressed their condolences, stating, “Our thoughts are with the student’s family, loved ones, the first responders, and the entire Fillmore community.”

The district has provided dedicated counselors at the school to support students and staff.

Lea Campbell, director of clinical services at The Behavioral Health Center at Porter Health Village, spoke of the importance of allowing children to express their emotions and ask questions following such tragedies.

“You want to normalize a wide range of emotions. Grief is not linear; it looks different for every person,” she said.

Campbell advised using age-appropriate honesty to help children understand and reassured them that trauma often stems from uncontrollable events.

“It’s important to remember that trauma comes from things we have no control over, so allowing a child to lead that conversation means they don’t get more information than what they need,” Campbell said.

For those who witnessed the tragedy, Campbell noted, “There’s a lot of survival grief that can come along with that and can impact overall well-being.”

She encouraged families to maintain open communication, saying, “Reassure the child that I’m here for you, we work through things as a family, we can talk about these things, leave that open door policy.”

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Counseling services remain available on-site through Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Police have cleared the bus driver of any wrongdoing in the incident at this point.

A family friend has created a GoFundMe.

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By Shay O’Connor

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest after an Army officer’s wedding dress was stolen from the New Orleans International Airport.

According to Brandon Veal, public information officer for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jesus Orellana Castillo, 59, of Kenner, was arrested in connection with the theft that happened over Thanksgiving weekend.

Veal said Castillo is a contract employee at the airport cleaning parking garages. She was booked on theft charges.

Amber Oglesby said the wedding dress she purchased from overseas, along with other items like her ID cards and passport, vanished at the airport while she was visiting for a trip over the holiday weekend.

According to Oglesby, her dress and other items were thrown away.

Oglesby said a local bridal shop is helping her replace her dress.

MSY issued the following statement regarding the incident:

“The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport maintains a strong focus on passenger, employee, and facility safety and security, and we expect all contracted partners to meet those standards. That’s why as soon as we learned of this incident, we immediately reviewed our camera footage, identified the suspect and shared those details with JPSO to support their investigation.”

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By Jason Burger

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A six-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a school bus near Fillmore Elementary School in Oklahoma City on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a flood of first responders to the scene.

Oklahoma City police investigating after child struck by bus on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.OCPD: 6-year-old student dead after being struck by bus Wednesday afternoon

The accident took place at the intersection of Southwest 51st Street and Douglas Avenue, where flowers have already been placed in memory of the young victim, who was a first-grade student.

According to a statement from Oklahoma City Public Schools, the boy was enrolled at Fillmore Elementary. Police reported that the bus was traveling east on Southwest 51st Street and turned onto South Douglas Avenue when the boy and two other children ran in front of the bus.

Authorities at the scene indicated that the bus driver did not do anything wrong and has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Oklahoma City Public Schools released a statement expressing their condolences:

“Our thoughts are with the student’s family, loved ones, the first responders and our entire Fillmore community as we grieve this tremendous loss. Beginning tomorrow, we will have dedicated counselors and additional support staff on site to support our students and staff who may need assistance.”

The identity of the child has not been released.

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By Kendall Brandt

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    PUNTA GORDA, Florida (WBBH) — The family of Sawyer Updike, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin who died by suicide in January 2024, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Sigma Chi fraternity’s national chapter and individual members, alleging abuse and hazing.

Sheri Roberts Updike, Sawyer’s mother, said she discovered disturbing photos on his phone after his death, showing her son burned, beaten, and forced to use drugs.

“I thought that would be a good way to meet people and build community, for him,” she said. “But that’s one of the things I never expected was the community of torture, not community of, I would say, real friendship and brotherhood. It’s definitely disguised as something else.”

She described finding photos of Sawyer burned with cigarettes, forced to use drugs, his body stapled with a gun, bruising all over his back and a large fishhook speared in his leg. “I got into his Snapchat, and it just kept getting worse. It sickened me. I had to stop for a while and quit looking,” she said.

The executive director of Sigma Chi International Fraternity wrote in a statement that the UT chapter was closed after learning about the allegations.

A spokesperson with the university said the group was placed on deferred suspension prior to the international organization revoking its charter.

However, the family is also suing the UT chapter, which they said reorganized under “Texas Alpha Nu.”

A screenshot which Roberts Updike gave Gulf Coast News shows a post made by the group on Instagram announcing the reorganization on July 3 with the caption “Same Brotherhood. New name.”

A university spokesperson said the new group was given a cease-and-desist order on Nov. 21. That order came one day after the lawsuit was filed in Travis County, Texas. A university spokesperson noted the organization is a registered student organization but not a part of their Interfraternity Council. The house corporation president for the group never got back to Gulf Coast News for comment.

Sawyer’s mother and her attorney believe the fraternity had a duty to keep Sawyer and other members safe. “The only time that the law changes is when a family of a kid that dies from hazing goes and does something about it. We want something to change,” she said.

Roberts Updike has started a high school scholarship to reward students who speak out and stand up.

Below is Sigma Chi International’s full statement:

“Sigma Chi International Fraternity was devastated by the tragic death of our brother, Sawyer Lee Updike, at the University of Texas in January 2024. In the months that followed, credible allegations of inappropriate behavior from members in that chapter emerged, prompting a thorough investigation by Sigma Chi International Fraternity that resulted in the closure of this chapter and the expulsion of several members of the organization.

“For Sigma Chi, our central principles call us to hold each other to the highest possible standards and to care especially for our brothers. Any individual who fails to do so betrays not only himself but also his brothers and the values we hold sacred.

“As these matters proceed through the court system, we will expect and encourage that any individuals who are found responsible for any of the actions described in it will face the fullest consequences that our justice system demands.”

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By Addison Kliewer

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    NORMAN, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A University of Oklahoma student is in the national spotlight for claiming religious discrimination after she failed a psychology essay.

Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at OU, received a zero on an assignment, asking students to react to an article on gender roles. After receiving her grade, she filed a complaint with the university.

What we know

Samantha Fulnecky, a junior at OU, referenced the Bible throughout a 650-word assignment, asking her to react to an article over gender roles for a psychology class

The graduate teaching instructor gave Fulnecky a zero on the assignment, saying she did not follow the guidelines. The instructor also called the article “at times offensive”

A second instructor for the course agreed with the grade, saying the assignment was not followed

The instructor is on administrative leave

The university said the essay will not count toward Fulnecky’s final grade

Who is Samantha Fulnecky?

Fulnecky is a junior at OU. She is from Nixa, Missouri, according to a biography on OU Women’s Tennis page. She was listed on the Women’s Tennis roster for the 2024-25 season.

She spoke to KOCO 5 after filing the complaint against the professor.

“I gave my opinion, and, not just my opinion, but that’s like the Bible says that God created male and female, and anything that’s not from God, is glorifying to God, is glorifying to the enemy,” Fulnecky said.

Fulnecky said she reached out to the teaching assistant to reconsider the grade before filing a formal complaint with the university.

“It’s that I think I should have gotten 100. I’ve gotten 100 on every single essay in this class, and I write them all the same—exactly the same. The TA has never had a problem with how I write my papers in this class. So, it has nothing to do with the title, or grammar, or how I write, or anything like that,” Fulnecky said.

What did the essay say?

OU’s Chapter of Turning Point USA posted screenshots of Fulnecky’s essay. Read it below:

“This article was very thought provoking and caused me to thoroughly evaluate the idea of gender and the role it plays in our society. The article discussed peers using teasing as a way to enforce gender norms. I do not necessarily see this as a problem. God made male and female and made us differently from each other on purpose and for a purpose. God is very intentional with what He makes, and I believe trying to change that would only do more harm. Gender roles and tendencies should not be considered “stereotypes”. Women naturally want to do womanly things because God created us with those womanly desires in our hearts. The same goes for men. God created men in the image of His courage and strength, and He created women in the image of His beauty. He intentionally created women differently than men and we should live our lives with that in mind. It is frustrating to me when I read articles like this and discussion posts from my classmates of so many people trying to conform to the same mundane opinion, so they do not step on people’s toes. I think that is a cowardly and insincere way to live. It is important to use the freedom of speech we have been given in this country, and I personally believe that eliminating gender in our society would be detrimental, as it pulls us farther from God’s original plan for humans. It is perfectly normal for kids to follow gender “stereotypes” because that is how God made us. The reason so many girls want to feel womanly and care for others in a motherly way is not because they feel pressured to fit into social norms. It is because God created and chose them to reflect His beauty and His compassion in that way. In Genesis, God says that it is not good for man to be alone, so He created a helper for man (which is a woman). Many people assume the word “helper” in this context to be condescending and offensive to women. However, the original word in Hebrew is “ezer kenegdo” and that directly translates to “helper equal to”. Additionally, God describes Himself in the Bible using “ezer kenegdo”, or “helper”, and He describes His Holy Spirit as our Helper as well. This shows the importance God places on the role of the helper (women’s roles). God does not view women as less significant than men. He created us with such intentionally and care and He made women in his image of being a helper, and in the image of His beauty. If leaning into that role means I am “following gender stereotypes” then I am happy to be following a stereotype that aligns with the gifts and abilities God gave me as a woman.

Rubric and assignment requirements

On the essay rubric, the grading was based on whether there was an understanding of the article, whether it was a clear reaction, and whether the main ideas were organized in a coherent discussion.

The assignment was worth 25 points.

The grade

The graduate instructor, who did not wish the comment on the story, said the essay did not follow the assignment guidelines and was “at times offensive.” The instructor said it lacked empirical evidence.

“Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs, but instead I am deducting points for you posting a reaction paper that does not answer the questions for this assignment, contradicts itself, heavily uses personal ideology over empirical evidence in a scientific class, and is at times offensive,” the instructor said in the grading comments, according to screenshots posted by OU’s Turning Point USA chapter.

“While you are entitled to your own personal beliefs, there is an appropriate time or place to implement them in your reflections. I encourage all students to question or challenge the course material with other empirical findings or testable hypotheses, but using your own personal beliefs to argue against the findings of not only this article, but the findings of countless articles across psychology, biology, sociology, etc. is not best practice”

The instructor also responded to Fulnecky’s claims that society pushing the idea of multiple genders is “demonic.”

“Additionally, to call an entire group of people “demonic” is highly offensive, especially a minoritized population. You are entitled to your own beliefs, but this isn’t a vague narrative of “society pushes lies,” but instead the result of countless years developing psychological and scientific evidence for these claims and directly interacting with the communities involved. You may personally disagree with this, but that doesn’t change the fact that every major psychological, medical, pediatric, and psychiatric association in the United States acknowledges that, biologically and psychologically, sex and gender is neither binary nor fixed,” the instructor, who is a transgender woman, commented.

Fulnecky told KOCO that she did not mean for the “demonic” comments to be offensive.

A second instructor for the course also commented on the essay, saying they agreed with the grade given to Fulnecky.

“This paper should not be considered as a completion of the assignment,” said the second instructor’s comments, according to screenshots from Turning Point USA.

OU’s investigation

When Fulnecky received zero out of 25 points on the assignment, filed a complaint against OU, claiming her religious freedom was violated.

The instructor was placed on administrative leave. The university confirmed to KOCO that the essay would not count toward Fulnecky’s final grade.

On Saturday, the university released a statement on the issue:

“The University of Oklahoma takes seriously concerns involving First Amendment rights, certainly including religious freedoms. Upon receiving notice from the student on the grading of an assignment, the University immediately began a full review of the situation and has acted swiftly to address the matter. First, the college acted immediately to address the academic issue raised by the student. College leaders contacted her on the day her letter was received and have maintained regular communication throughout the process. As previously stated, a formal grade appeals process was conducted. The process resulted in steps to ensure no academic harm to the student from the graded assignments. Second, the student reported filing a claim of illegal discrimination based on religious beliefs to the appropriate university office. OU has a clear process for reviewing such claims and it has been activated. The graduate student instructor has been placed on administrative leave pending the finalization of this process. To ensure fairness in the process, a full-time professor is serving as the course instructor for the remainder of the semester. OU remains firmly committed to fairness, respect and protecting every student’s right to express sincerely held religious beliefs.” Michael Givel, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma, described the situation as unusual, with many unknowns and questions surrounding the process.

“If I started advertising why I gave a grade to a student, I would be in hot water, under federal privacy laws at OU,” Givel said.

Givel noted that the university’s public statement over the weekend regarding the graduate teaching assistant’s administrative leave was out of the ordinary.

“The tweet on Sunday evening is highly unusual and frankly concerning that OU is tweeting about a personnel decision about the GTA,” he said.

Public’s response

The situation has sparked debate from the public and leaders, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, who described the situation as “deeply concerning.”

Former State Superintendent Ryan Walters also shared his reaction in a video played at a luncheon for Original Constitutional Principles Affecting Culture Foundation.

“What a rockstar she is. What an absolute American hero, standing up for her Christian faith,” Walters said. “Everybody involved with this situation who did this to Samantha should be fired immediately. It’s not tough—it’s called the First Amendment, it’s called academics, it’s called a taxpayer university.”

Meanwhile, a protest march is scheduled to take place on OU’s campus Friday at noon, with a flyer on Signed Oklahoma’s Instagram calling to “protect our educators.” Attempts to reach Signed Oklahoma for comment have not yet been successful.

Is legal action possible?

Attorney Ed Blau told KOCO that he did not see basis for a lawsuit against the university on behalf of Fulnecky.

“Long story short, there’s no constitutional guarantee to an A. There’s just not,”said Blau. “This student is claiming discrimination based on her religion due to the grade that she received on this paper. But let’s flip it around a little bit. Is the university violating their professor’s constitutional rights and First Amendment rights by suspending her because she gave a student a certain grade? But the road goes both directions.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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