Category: CNN Regional

By Heath Kalb

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    DETROIT, Michigan (WWJ) — Dozens of Black men of all ages gathered Thursday afternoon to set a positive example in Detroit.

It’s finally starting to get warm outside, and New Era Detroit is doing what it can to ensure that Black men of all ages are setting a good example in every neighborhood of the city, as violence typically rises in the summer months.

“You build relationships with the community, we build relationships with each other. And then once again, the community, especially the kids, get to see us out in unity and then our boots on the ground to show that we really care,” said Zeke Williams with New Era Detroit.

The organization, which has been around for over a decade, began its “Brothas on the Block” walks about two years ago to help more Black men feel comfortable being visible, positive presences in the city.

“Our goal is to bring everybody out the neighborhood to come outside to engage with each other. So as we walk the blocks, we pick up trash, we engage with the neighbors,” said Parellee with New Era Detroit.

As we move into the warmer season, the community group says this outreach is more important than ever. They say that when younger people spend more time outside, conflict resolution is especially important, whether it arises from neighborhood disagreements or the so-called “teen takeovers” in the downtown area.

“As you know, in Michigan, there’s a lotta winter months where everybody is in the house, and it’s a lot of tension that goes on over the winter months with the younger crowd, and so as those tensions grow and as summer comes, they see each other and tensions might happen,” said Parallee.

The group says these walks are a positive way to engage with their own communities, rather than waiting for another tragedy to get involved.

New Era says it will hold a different walk in a different Detroit neighborhood every other Thursday.

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 Michele Gile

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A forest of eucalyptus trees planted decades ago gave Laguna Beach’s Forest Avenue its name, and when the city chopped down nearly 10 of them this week, the community says the part of the charm is gone.

On Monday night, nine mature trees were cut down in one block where a new pedestrian promenade is being built. It’s next to Michael McFadden’s jewelry store, and he says the trees were supposed to stay.

“As part of the plan, the trees were supposed to remain — we were told that the trees were going to remain,” he said.

“We were sold a bill of goods, basically cause when I came in yesterday morning, all the trees were gone.”

Business owner Ruben Flores says it’s a big blow, “… because it’s our main street in town and it was beautiful and romantic and charming — everything that you think of Laguna Beach and now it’s gone.”

City leaders say the removal was necessary for safety reasons. A eucalyptus on the same block fell in March. But people who live and work in town say they were blindsided.

“It is heartbreaking because the character of our town was literally in the poetry of those giant trees,” Amy Jackson, Village Laguna board member, said.

Laguna Beach officials called an emergency Zoom meeting on Monday to share results of tests on the trees. Then, hours later, came the sound of chain saws.

“This is a practice so that the people could not protest…could not say wait a minute. Let’s get a better arborist to look at this,” resident George Weiss said.

On Wednesday, protestors did show up. Laguna Mayor Mark Orgill says he understands

The community sentiment and admits that what was lacking in Monday’s emergency meeting was that the trees would be coming down.

“I think that we could have done a lot better, so I think that we failed at how we communicated things, and I’m asking the community to be patient with us, and I think ultimately the promenade will be something we’ll be proud of,” Orgill said.

The city says a total of 30 new trees will be planted, including four live oaks and a couple of dozen eucalyptus, all to be planted on lower Forest Avenue.

The other eucalyptus in the area will be monitored for disease and structural integrity.

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 Abby Dodge, Ana Maria Soler

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Newly released video shows the moment a Fort Lauderdale K-9 officer was shot while pursuing a burglary suspect, followed by the handler’s emotional exchange with his dog while driving him to the emergency clinic.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department released footage detailing the lengths officers went to capture the suspect, Christian Bouie.

Officers searched a home Saturday night near 1600 N.W. 16th Court for Bouie.

“FLPD, show yourself,” an officer called out.

It took the Fort Lauderdale Police Department more than an hour to approach Bouie with the help of a SWAT team and heat-sensor cameras attached to a helicopter.

“Yeah, we have him. He’s in a tree,” a pilot can be heard saying.

That’s when the K-9, Appie, went to work. Police say Bouie shot the dog, shattering his upper arm in two places.

The K-9 handler rushed Appie to an emergency clinic, sharing an emotional moment in the car.

“My dog has been shot,” the K-9 handler said. “Buddy, I love you. I love you, bud.”

After a five-hour surgery, Appie received a hero’s welcome back home.

“Today, we celebrate not just survival, but heroism,” Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz said. “Appie, he is, and always will be our canine hero.”

Another K-9 helped take down Bouie, leaving Appie to focus on recovery. The department is still weighing the option of Appie returning to duty.

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.

WFOR

By Abby Dodge, Ana Maria Soler

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Newly released video shows the moment a Fort Lauderdale K-9 officer was shot while pursuing a burglary suspect, followed by the handler’s emotional exchange with his dog while driving him to the emergency clinic.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department released footage detailing the lengths officers went to capture the suspect, Christian Bouie.

Officers searched a home Saturday night near 1600 N.W. 16th Court for Bouie.

“FLPD, show yourself,” an officer called out.

It took the Fort Lauderdale Police Department more than an hour to approach Bouie with the help of a SWAT team and heat-sensor cameras attached to a helicopter.

“Yeah, we have him. He’s in a tree,” a pilot can be heard saying.

That’s when the K-9, Appie, went to work. Police say Bouie shot the dog, shattering his upper arm in two places.

The K-9 handler rushed Appie to an emergency clinic, sharing an emotional moment in the car.

“My dog has been shot,” the K-9 handler said. “Buddy, I love you. I love you, bud.”

After a five-hour surgery, Appie received a hero’s welcome back home.

“Today, we celebrate not just survival, but heroism,” Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz said. “Appie, he is, and always will be our canine hero.”

Another K-9 helped take down Bouie, leaving Appie to focus on recovery. The department is still weighing the option of Appie returning to duty.

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 Allison Petro

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    KISSIMMEE, Florida (WESH) — A nurse is behind bars after a patient accused him of touching her while she was under anesthesia, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies identified the nurse as 45-year-old Carlos Herrera, who worked at AdventHealth Celebration in Kissimmee.

On March 16, deputies responded to reports of a battery incident.

During the investigation, deputies spoke with the victim, who told them that while she was in a post-anesthesia state, Herrera took her to another room.

She said Herrera yelled her name multiple times, but she was unable to speak or open her eyes. That’s when Herrera allegedly squeezed and massaged her breast, according to the arrest warrant.

The victim immediately opened her eyes after the contact and said Herrera claimed he was trying to move her so she could lie flat.

When a female nurse entered the room, the victim asked whether it was common practice to reposition patients in that manner. The nurse said it was not.

After the incident was reported, Herrera was suspended pending further investigation.

According to the arrest warrant, Herrera was charged with abuse of a disabled adult without causing great bodily harm, as the victim was under medication and recovering from surgery at the time of the incident.

He was also charged with committing a lewd and lascivious act.

WESH 2 reached out to Advent Health for comment, which shared the following statement:

“Patient safety is our highest priority. We take concerns like this seriously. In accordance with our policy, we immediately placed the team member on leave on March 16 after the allegation was made, and he remains on leave.”

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 Riley Conlon, Ryan Lovell

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — An investigation is underway in Birmingham after residents discovered a human skull and bones that investigators believe were dragged into the area by roaming dogs.

The remains, which the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office said include a skull and two long bones, were found at 11:48 a.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Sixth Avenue North. That’s in the city’s Smithfield community, not far from the Smithfield Community Center.

Residents spotted the bones near a residential roadway surrounded by overgrown, vacant lots and empty houses. Police and crime scene units quickly blocked off a portion of the road to investigate.

A thorough search of the area by investigators and a cadaver dog didn’t turn up any additional remains, nor could they find where the bones originally came from. Because of this, the coroner’s office suspects that dogs roaming the neighborhood brought the remains to the street.

An examination is scheduled for Thursday to begin the difficult process of identifying the person and figuring out how they died. At this time, the person’s identity, age, race and sex remain a mystery.

The Birmingham Police Department said its investigation into the discovery is ongoing.

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 Dean Fioresi

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    BURBANK, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A 30-year-old man who allegedly stabbed a first-grade teacher to death and wounded her daughter at their Burbank home on Monday night was charged with murder.

Sergio Meza Fraire was additionally charged with attempted murder and first-degree burglary, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The murder charge includes a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.

“It is further alleged that the defendant personally used a deadly weapon, a knife, in the commission of the murder and attempted murder and personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the attempted murder victim,” the DA’s Office said.

Fraire pleaded not guilty to the charges at the Pasadena Courthouse on Thursday.

He was arrested on Monday night, just hours after the incident in the 2800 block of N. Brighton Street, according to Burbank police. The stabbings were reported at around 6 a.m. that morning, when police say one of the victims called 911.

Upon arrival, officers found two women suffering from stab wounds. Both were taken to a nearby hospital, where 59-year-old Arti Varma was later pronounced dead. Her daughter, 25-year-old Meera Varma, was hospitalized after undergoing surgery and was in stable condition as of Tuesday.

Though Fraire remained at large most of Monday, police tracked him to a home in the 500 block of E. Palm Avenue in Burbank, where he was believed to be staying, later that night. He was arrested by a SWAT team at around 10 p.m. and has remained behind bars in lieu of $2 million bail since, authorities said.

Police said that they collected evidence connected to the stabbings at the Palm Avenue home, including a knife they believe was used in the incident.

While the investigation into the motive and possible connection between the suspect and the victims continues, CBS LA has learned through a property records search that someone with the same surname as the suspect also works at the elementary school where Arti Varma worked. Police have not yet indicated that this connection played a role in the alleged crime.

The Burbank Unified School District confirmed on Monday that Arti Varma was a first-grade teacher at Bret Harte Elementary School.

“Ms. Varma was a deeply valued member of the Burbank Unified community. She was known not only for her dedication to teaching, but for the care, warmth, and passion she brought to her work every day,” BUSD said in a statement. “Her commitment to her students, her colleagues, and the Bret Harte Elementary School community was evident in the relationships she built and the lasting impact she had on the lives of those she served. Her loss is felt profoundly across our District.”

She is the second Bret Harte Elementary School teacher to have been killed in recent years. In May 2024, 57-year-old Karyn Lombardo was found dead inside her Burbank home. Her 25-year-old son was arrested in connection with her death.

Her daughter, Meera, is a well-regarded mental health advocate who works with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is known for her work with Oprah Winfrey and the family of former President Joe Biden.

Anyone who knows more about the stabbing was asked to contact Burbank PD at 818-238-3210.

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 Jasmine Arenas

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — April is National Donate Life Month, a time to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation and encourage people to register as donors.

To honor the month, a Colorado woman is sharing how organ donors saved both her life and her daughter’s.

The medals laid out on a bench tell a story of resilience and courage.

“It was a while before I started competing… I’ve won seven medals in track and field and darts,” Michelle Lynn said.

For nearly a decade, Lynn has competed in the Transplant Games, traveling the world as a track and field athlete. At times, she competes alongside her daughter, who also once needed a donor.

“We competed at the same games together. It was just amazing,” she said.

In 2003, Lynn was diagnosed with three forms of cancer, including lymphoma, and faced a fight for her life.

“Doctors told me my chances were slim,” she said.

Fifteen years ago, a bone marrow donor gave her a second chance.

“I’m just so grateful,” she said.

Now, she travels the world sharing her story. But her mission is deeply personal. Before she needed a donor, her newborn daughter did.

“My daughter was born with half a heart… there was nothing I could do,” she said.

At just three months old, her daughter received a life-saving heart transplant.

Lynn carries reminders of that journey in tattoos on her arms.

“Thirteen days after her transplant, we took her home, and she’s never been back,” she said.

Her story is a reminder to live life fully. In Colorado, more than 2,000 people are waiting for a transplant.

“People don’t realize you can donate a kidney, bone marrow, or part of your liver while you’re alive,” Lynn said. “You can save a life while you’re living.”

The Transplant Games of America will be held at the Colorado Convention Center, June 18-23.

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.