New gravity-defying Lions cake sculpture draws crowds to bakery window

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Carli Petrus

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    ROCHESTER, Michigan (WXYZ) — A life-sized, gravity-defying cake sculpture celebrating Detroit Lions players Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs is drawing crowds to The Home Bakery’s storefront window in downtown Rochester.

Owner Heather Tocco and her team of about 24 spent more than 400 hours creating the fully edible masterpiece, which features St. Brown suspended from the ceiling in a Superman pose while Gibbs crouches below in a Spider-Man position—recreating one of the season’s most memorable touchdown celebrations.

“Gibbs has cake in his thigh, some cake in his abdomen, Rice Krispies on his back,” Tocco said, describing the intricate construction process.

The massive sculpture required four men to secure the St. Brown figure to the ceiling, pushing Tocco’s design limits to ensure structural integrity.

“This one was really pushing my limits as far as making sure I was designing it correctly,” Tocco said.

This marks the second year Tocco has created a Lions-themed display, following last year’s tribute to St. Brown’s iconic headstand celebration. But this year, she wanted to go bigger.

“I think we all know the celly that this comes from, right? That beautiful Gibbs in the Spider-Man, St. Brown in the Superman that I think was on one of the most memorable cellys from this season,” Tocco said.

Despite the Lions’ missing the playoffs this season, Tocco believes there’s still reason to celebrate the team’s memorable moments.

“There’s still some epic moments and we still need to celebrate them and big things are coming this next season, I can feel it,” Tocco said.

The display has become a community attraction, drawing visitors from across the region.

“We came into town to see the window,” Nancy Greve said.

“It’s cool to see the recognition that this bakery has been getting,” JP Valade added.

“She’s super talented and it looks amazing,” Allie Casper said.

People take pictures in front of The Home Bakery window display. Tocco’s favorite aspect of creating these elaborate displays is how they bring the community together and generate excitement.

“I love the idea of it and I feel like what it’s doing for the community, it’s certainly worth our time and celebrating it, it’s just so fun and you felt the energy when you were in here and all the people are looking and taking photos and stuff like that, I love the feeling,” Tocco said.

The bakery plans to keep the cake on display until the end of February, and Tocco is already considering making Lions-themed displays an annual tradition as fans look ahead to next season.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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.

Ring falls from Skybridge Michigan during proposal, snowmaker finds it on ski slope

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By WXYZ Web Team

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    ROCHESTER HILLS, Michigan (WXYZ) — A Rochester Hills man who got engaged on Skybridge Michigan at Boyne nearly had the proposal ruined when the ring slipped through his fingers and through the grate, falling 118 feet to the snow below.

According to Boyne Mountain, Trevor Van Camp had planned the surprise weekend and dropped down to one knee on the Skybridge, proposing to his girlfriend, Danielle Jenkins.

However, with shaking hands, Van Camp pulled the ring from the box and it slipped from his grasp, falling through the open grating and into the ski slope below.

“We panicked for a minute and then said, we need to find it,” Trevor recalled.

The couple spent the next 2 1/2 hours searching the slopes with metal detectors. Pat Harper, the night shift snowmaking supervisor at Boyne, thankfully had the metal detectors in his car.

Shortly after giving up hope around 10 p.m., Harper’s metal detector picked up a signal. He then began digging through the snow and didn’t see anything.

Then, Harper pulled up a handful of snow, and found the edge of the ring in it.

As the couple prepared to leave Boyne, they got a call that the ring had been found

“I give big props and kudos to Pat for doing that for us, because he saved the day, he really did,” Danielle said in a statement. “It was an experience that we now have; a story to tell of our engagement.”

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Police search for suspects involved in Chinatown machete attack

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Kristen Consillio

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    CHINATOWN (KITV) — Business operators woke up to a stream of blood drops that went from here at Kekaulike Mall up King Street and all the way to the police station on Maunakea.

“When the sun goes down this area becomes kind of violent, especially in the market where there is no presence. So a lot of the local customers out here know not to come out at night,” said Ra Long, owner of Fred’s Sundries. “They’re either getting robbed or getting mugged or getting stabbed.”

A late-night fight at Kekaulike Mall put two men in the hospital — one suffering from severe wounds to his arm, the other his upper body from a sharp weapon. This video obtained by Island News shows a man with what appears to be large knife chasing someone in the street.

“Machete is very common weapon. You know, drug dealers, homeless, they use it for protection,” said Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, founder of the Chinatown Business & Community Association. “That’s why we need to really address the drug problem.”

Despite the city installing dozens of cameras and businesses investing in their own surveillance systems and security teams: “A lot of it, you know, it goes unreported because the mentality now is in Chinatown, is why bother calling if nothing’s going to be done? So when you do call, they get arrested and the next day they’re out,” Long said.

The Honolulu Police Department opened multiple cases, but said all parties involved were uncooperative.

“The incident does not appear to be a random act of violence and the parties involved appear to be acquaintances,” said HPD’s District 1 Acting Maj. Henry Roberts.

And without their cooperation, HPD said it cannot make an arrest.

“It’s half a block away from a police station. They’re not afraid of the city cameras across the street,” Long said. “If we’re not tough on crime, everyone loses in this state. No one’s winning. The only people that was winning is our criminals.”

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Mother publishes a book written by her daughter who tragically passed away

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Nick Iadonisi

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    WEST DEPTFORD, New Jersey (WPVI) — The mission of this South Jersey mom to honor her daughter has taken the form of a children’s book.

Tess Fox tragically passed away in 2024, but her story lives on in “Cheese Tales: Cheese and the Big Sneeze.”

“It was my absolute honor to fulfill this wish for Tess to be a published author. She may not be here physically, but she’s here in spirit and she is part of that book,” said Tess’ Mother, Judi Fox.

The book is inspired by Tess Fox’s adopted dog: “Cheese.”

Now, the book can be seen on the shelves of the West Deptford Free Public Library.

“Being her husband, I was lucky enough to sit there and watch her write the book originally, and I know how much it meant to her…To see it come to life means everything to me. To see her mom carry this book and her legacy, I know Tess is somewhere out there smiling down,” said Kevin Merkle of Springfield, Pennsylvania.

One of the ways this can be purchased on Mascot Books,.

Portions of the proceeds collected will support the Tess Kathryn Fox Memorial Scholarship.

“Tess was loved, she is missed, and it becomes bittersweet because she should be here. She will live on…because of people talking about her and resonating with the fact that she may not be here, but she’s always remembered,” said Judi Fox.

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Encouraging words greeted students at Roxborough HS after racist, antisemitic graffiti found

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By 6abc Digital Staff and Cheyenne Corin

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Students returning to Roxborough High School were met with messages of love and inclusion instead of hate after racist and antisemitic graffiti was discovered on the building over the weekend.

Community members gathered to condemn the vandalism, which included swastikas, and to support students following the incident.

David Matthews of Mount Airy said such acts should not still be happening.

“Here we are now, 2026, and we’re still experiencing these things. Students shouldn’t have to go through this,” Matthews said.

In response to the discovery, Principal Kristin Williams-Smalley invited families and community members to write messages of encouragement, belonging and unity on the sidewalks outside the school to welcome students back.

“Yesterday was a day especially coming back off of a break, but instantly energized when I see their faces,” Williams-Smalley said.

She said the goal was to make clear that hate would not define the school community.

“Love wins every single time, and we are here to show everyone, particularly our cubs, which is what we call our students, that we are here and we’re going to show up every time for them and hate has no place here,” Williams-Smalley said.

Alumna Sarai Nathaniel, who is now a teacher at a nearby school, stopped by to write messages of her own and said the incident became a teachable moment in her classroom.

“I actually took the opportunity to teach my kids about hate speech and things of that nature and how it can be so close to home,” Nathaniel said.

Although the graffiti was removed quickly, Matthews said the impact can linger, drawing on his own experiences growing up.

“Coming up in the 70s in my high school and 80s, I experienced stuff like this. I was in the segregated bus program where I faced these types of statements on a regular basis,” he said.

Both Matthews and Nathaniel said the community response is what helps create change.

“That doesn’t overtake the love that we have its more of us than its more than them,” Matthews said.

“We just gotta show more love, and once we show more love, we’ll eliminate the hate,” Nathaniel said.

The district’s office of school safety and Philadelphia police are investigating the incident. So far, no suspects have been identified.

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Snowmobiler found dead in Nevada County avalanche, sheriff’s office says

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Lindsay Weber, Maricela De La Cruz

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    NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — One person died following an avalanche near Truckee on Monday, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 2:19 p.m., dispatchers received a call about a possible avalanche that unfolded among a group of five snowmobilers near Johnson and Castle peaks, with one person unaccounted for.

The sheriff’s office said the missing snowmobiler was found buried under the snow minutes later, and was pulled out by others in the group. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died from his injuries.

Two additional snowmobilers assisted the group when the avalanche occurred and stayed with them, Sgt. Dustin Moe with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office told KCRA 3.

“Just given the recent snow conditions out there, we want to keep the safety of the searchers a priority, so mitigating those risks, trying to plan out a route in a way that we can safely make it to the people out there, was the biggest task to overcome during this incident. We deployed people in different locations, and trying to get out in the field proved extremely difficult. The victim in this case ended up being on a different route than we initially planned,” Moe said.

Officials haven’t released information on the victim. No other injuries were reported.

Officials said around 45 personnel from the sheriff’s office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, the California Highway Patrol, the Truckee Fire Department, North Truckee Fire Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are involved in the search.

The area where the avalanche occurred is commonly used for recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Officials say treacherous terrain, steep peaks, and cliff faces can be dangerous for people navigating.

The Sierra Avalanche Center depicts a “considerable” risk for an avalanche in the Tahoe Basin as of Monday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said further avalanche activity remains possible, and recreationists should avoid the area.

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Nonprofit In Jacob’s Shoes ensuring kids can walk tall, jump high

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Najahe Sherman

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — The founders of a Broward County based non-profit are working to ensure that all children can walk tall and jump high.

Co-founder of In Jacob’s Shoes, Harlene Zweig, gave CBS News Miami a tour of the non-profit’s shoe warehouse in Deerfield Beach.

The facility was filled with hundreds of shoes but they go quickly.

As Zweig explained, the need is great. Since its inception in 2009 the nonprofit has provided more than 275,000 pairs of shoes to children and families in need.

“We have a pop-up shoe store, and our volunteers act as personal shoppers, and walk around with the children and help them pick out a new pair of shoes for back to school and some cases this is the first time a child is getting a new pair of shoes or picking out their own and not getting a hand-me-down,” Zweig said.

Zweig and her husband started the non-profit 16 years ago in memory of their son, Jacob. He was tragically killed at the age of 17 in 2008.

The couple says In Jacobs Shoe’s honors the love and encouragement Jacob gave to all who knew him. The nonprofit pairs with 200 local charities, social service agencies and homeless shelters. They also have about 150 shoe closets in schools and shelters.

“So this way, a child doesn’t have to wait to request a pair of shoes, they’re in school, they need a pair of shoes, the teacher can send them to the closet, they pick out a pair of shoes, they go back to class and they don’t have to miss school,” Zweig said.

The group takes in donations from the public of gently warn shoes, and then thousands of volunteers help clean and restore those shoes to pristine condition. In Jacob’s Shoes also provides cleats and socks for entire sports teams in underserved communities.

Maddy Chusid has been the executive director of the organization for 13 years.

“I can help them carry on Jacob’s legacy,” Chusid said. “Look at all the good we’re doing, 275,000 pairs of shoes. That’s a lot,”

Nearly 20% of children in South Florida live in poverty and thousands more are in foster care. Since 2009, In Jacob’s Shoes has been addressing these issues in Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties.

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11-year-old girl shot in Antioch while inside moving vehicle

CNN Newsource on January 6, 2026

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A girl sitting inside her family’s vehicle in Antioch was shot by an apparent stray bullet on Monday, police said.

The shooting happened at the Delta View apartment complex on Delta Fair Boulevard at about 12:38 p.m. The Antioch Police Department said officers responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of the complex and learned an 11-year-old girl had been shot in the head while inside a vehicle.

The vehicle left the premises and drove to a nearby shopping center parking lot, where multiple callers reported the vehicle’s location, police said. Officers found the girl still inside the vehicle and began first aid until personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived. She was taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, where she was listed in stable condition.

Police said the initial investigation indicated the victim was in the passenger seat of the family vehicle as it was exiting the parking lot, and that the family does not appear to have been the intended targets.

There was no suspect information 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.

11-year-old girl shot in Antioch while inside moving vehicle

CNN on January 6, 2026


KPIX

By Carlos E. Castañeda

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A girl sitting inside her family’s vehicle in Antioch was shot by an apparent stray bullet on Monday, police said.

The shooting happened at the Delta View apartment complex on Delta Fair Boulevard at about 12:38 p.m. The Antioch Police Department said officers responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of the complex and learned an 11-year-old girl had been shot in the head while inside a vehicle.

The vehicle left the premises and drove to a nearby shopping center parking lot, where multiple callers reported the vehicle’s location, police said. Officers found the girl still inside the vehicle and began first aid until personnel from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived. She was taken to Children’s Hospital in Oakland, where she was listed in stable condition.

Police said the initial investigation indicated the victim was in the passenger seat of the family vehicle as it was exiting the parking lot, and that the family does not appear to have been the intended targets.

There was no suspect information 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.

Body of hiker missing from Colfax area found near Lake Clementine

CNN on January 6, 2026


KOVR

By Brandon Downs, Richard Ramos

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — The body of a hiker who went missing in the Colfax area last week was pulled from the American River on Monday, officials said.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said the search began before 6 p.m. Friday in the area of Codfish Falls Trail when deputies received a call about a woman who may be missing.

Deputies said the woman — identified by authorities as 40-year-old Eryn VanAcker — was last seen walking on the trail with her dog. The dog was later seen alone.

During the search on Friday night, VanAcker’s vehicle was found in the area, and her phone and a dog bowl were found along the river. The dog was located and is safe.

Boats were on the water Sunday, but deputies said VanAcker had not been located. As of Sunday, deputies said there was no evidence that indicated anything other than an accidental incident. All possibilities are still to be evaluated, the sheriff’s office said.

Monday, the sheriff’s office revealed that they believe VanAcker went into the water and was swept upstream from Lake Clementine. The sheriff’s office confirmed to CBS News Sacramento around 4 p.m. that crews had pulled VanAcker’s body from the water in that area.

VanAcker is from the San Francisco Bay Area and was visiting the area with her long-term boyfriend, the sheriff’s office said.

Cal Fire, Auburn State Recreation Area and Cal OES all assisted in the search.

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.