Oklahoma Senate advances bill to aid cold case investigations

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Jason Burger

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — The Oklahoma Senate has passed a bill that aims to help families of cold case victims by creating a formal case file review process, allowing them to request further investigation.

Maggie Zingman, a trauma psychologist and the mother of Brittany Phillips, who was murdered in Tulsa in September 2004, expressed her support for the bill.

“Trying to help other people not go through what I’ve gone through, especially in the last eight years of our 21-year cold case,” Zingman said.

She has been seeking answers for her daughter’s murder for over two decades without success.

“In the last eight years, my requests for cold case assistance have been turned down, so that was part of my impetus for this,” she said.

The bill, known as SB 1636, would provide families with a new avenue to request further investigation into cold cases.

“It gives families a voice to request a review, then it sets up parameters how soon a response must be made,” Zingman said.

Once a formal request is made, law enforcement would have 30 days to confirm receipt, and investigators would have six months to determine if further investigation is warranted. The case file review would include all information, evidence, records, and testimonies related to the case.

Zingman recalled the challenges faced when Brittany’s case was first declared cold.

“Two things, one, the DNA analysis was just coming into the picture, but genetic genealogy was still very tentative, you couldn’t even use it in court yet,” she said.

Advocates for other cold cases, such as the State Fair murders involving Cheryl Genzer and Lisa Pennington, have also supported the bill.

“The Fairgrounds murders, that’s what, 40 years old? Mine is 21,” Zingman said.

Rocky Pennington, father of Lisa Pennington, emphasized the importance of keeping these cases open.

“I want to let everybody know, hey, this case is open. The murderers are still out there,” he said.

The bill specifies that case reviews cannot be conducted by the original investigators, and in some instances, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation would assist.

“For a lot of these small towns that don’t have big departments, and they want to do reviews, these reviews are going to go to OSBI — right now, OSBI can’t come in to our case, unless TPD asks for it,” Zingman said.

If investigators do not find any new information, the bill states that the case cannot be reviewed again for five years.

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.

Spring brings ant invasions to Oklahoma homes

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Jason Burger

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — As spring arrives, ant colonies are increasingly invading homes in search of food, prompting pest control experts to offer advice on prevention.

Zach Dillard from Blaze Pest Control explained their behavior this time of the year.

“They’re trying to find food, and trying to repopulate,” Dillard said.

Dillard advised homeowners to be vigilant about cleaning, as ants are attracted to certain foods left on floors or pantry shelves.

“Sugars, proteins — proteins are what help them repopulate and produce more of their eggs and stuff,” he said.

Ants tend to follow the same paths, which pest control experts use to track their movements and locate their mounds.

“They’ll follow the same path, so that’s what we’ll do, and we’ll watch them, and let’s say they’re in a kitchen or in a house somewhere, we’ll watch them and see where they’re coming in and out, to see where their mound is at,” Dillard said.

Ants can even invade cereal boxes, storing food from the pantry and bringing it back to their mounds.

“They were storing food from the pantry, they were going right into the kitchen through their windows — and they were getting sugary cereal, and bringing it back to their mounds,” Dillard said.

Widespread or severe ant infestations may require professional pest control experts.

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MPS superintendent says she cut 201 ‘non-classroom’ positions, teacher’s union says that’s not true

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Emily Pofahl

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announced cuts to 201 “non-classroom” positions earlier this month as a means to address the district’s $46 million budget deficit.

On Thursday, the union representing MPS educators said the cuts go deeper than that. Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association President Ingrid Walker-Henry called Cassellius’s promise “lies.”

“It’s infuriating because we know how important all of the positions who work with our students are,” Walker-Henry told reporters.

This week, more than 200 employees received letters called “excess notices,” explaining that the district is eliminating their jobs.

“Your position for the 2026-2027 school year has been eliminated, as a result, your last day of employment in your current assignment will be June 30th, 2026,” the letter read.

Cassellius had previously signaled in January that cuts were forthcoming, promising they would be “non-classroom” positions. The 201 cut includes 70 staff from the central office, 62 “implementers” or support and floater teachers, and 59 assistant principals.

Some assistant principals have been working for the district for decades.

The teachers’ union claims that the cuts have impacted essential roles within the schools. Walker-Henry said some of her members, including music and art teachers and paraprofessionals, have also received letters or had their hours reduced. The union did not have an exact number or estimate of their members with classroom roles who are impacted, but Walker-Henry said a music teacher at Vincent High School was among them.

“The most disturbing thing about the superintendent’s lies are the countless paraprofessionals and children’s health assistants that have been told this week that they have either been cut from their school’s budget or their hours have been reduced,” Walker-Henry said.

Cassellius said some of the hourly reductions and cuts to music or art positions are part of adjustments that come every year, and are not part of the 201 cuts the district expects to save $30 million from.

“Typically every year, we see adjustments that are made throughout the district and reductions made throughout the district based on enrollment or based on choice that students are making,” Cassellius said.

Cassellius also confirmed that some educators in the “implementers” category who have teaching licenses and work in classrooms are losing their jobs.

“Change is just hard,” she said. “This is an incredibly challenging place for the district to be in right now with a $46 million deficit.”

The district is in the middle of an audit to ensure compliance with special education support requirements, and anticipates adjusting paraprofessional staffing after the results are released.

Walker-Henry called for the school board’s Office of Accountability and Efficiency to intervene.

“The school board and the office of accountability must step in; they must ensure that this level of dysfunction stops,” she said.

Despite the job eliminations, the district plans to hire for more positions later this spring, allowing laid-off employees to apply internally before public postings. Cassellius said she anticipates adding more than 200 teaching jobs next year as part of the district’s effort to lower class sizes, but emphasized that she’s waiting on more information about needs from school principals before sharing the exact number of positions available.

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Marquette University students provide free camp for kids impacted by parents’ cancer

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Mallory Anderson

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Students at Marquette University are dedicating their time to making sure children affected by their parents’ cancer are getting the love and support they need.

Kesem at Marquette University puts on two week-long summer camp sessions for southeast Wisconsin children whose parents have or have had cancer. Camp is free for families, with the college students raising money throughout the school year to fund the experience. Kesem is not a grief camp, but rather an opportunity to provide kids time to have fun and connect with children going through similar situations at home.

Kesem at Marquette co-directors Bobby DiSandro and Natalie McHone joined 12 News at 11 Thursday to talk about their mission, and their biggest fundraiser, “Make The Magic,” coming up on April 11 at Discovery World in Milwaukee. You can watch their interview in the video clip above.

Kesem is a nationwide non-profit with chapters at over 115 universities in 41 states. To find a chapter near you, visit Kesem.org.

For more information on Kesem at Marquette, visit their Facebook page.

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Mississippi woman says husband warned ‘Give me a reason’ before shooting her as son watched

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Nicholas Brooks

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    JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — A Jackson woman said she was hunted, beaten and shot all in front of her 7-year-old son.

Crystal Emery, a mother and amputee with one arm, said the violence escalated suddenly over the weekend when her husband came home intoxicated.

“As I’m standing directly in front of him, asking him what you’re on, he was like, ‘All I need you to do is give me a reason. Give me a reason,'” said Emery.

Emery said she took that statement as a warning sign and made a crucial decision.

“So, my mind was like, ‘Go get your son and just get in your car and go,'” said Emery.

But she said she never made it safely to her car.

“Then he was like, ‘You’re not going anywhere.’ As I’m going this way, he runs off the porch, knocks me to the ground, punching me all over my face and head,” Emery said.

Emery said she was beaten while her 7-year-old son watched in horror.

“My son was like, ‘Duke, please stop hitting my mom. Don’t do my mama like that,'” said Emery.

She said her husband had a gun and took her phone, preventing her from calling for help. Emery and her son finally got into the car, hoping to escape.

But that’s when she said the gunfire began.

16 WAPT News counted four bullet holes that went through her windshield, all while she and her son were inside. The damage is still visible — bullet holes piercing the windshield and even the driver’s seat where Emery was sitting.

Emery was shot in the shoulder.

“He was like, ‘Oh, so now I have to justify why I shot you,'” said Emery.

Her story highlights how quickly domestic violence can escalate. This past weekend in Brandon, a woman was killed by her husband, who then died by suicide. Last year in Yazoo City, a teacher was killed by her ex-partner, who also died by suicide. Both tragic domestic violence cases.

Despite the severity of the incident, 41-year-old Ackland Dukes is currently charged with aggravated domestic violence. Emery said she believes the case should be considered attempted murder.

Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones said that additional charges have been added to the case, including aggravated assault on a child and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

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‘It was a miracle that I even survived’: Survivor of Maine home explosion grateful for support

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Terry Stackhouse

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    WATERVILLE, Maine (WMTW) — Nearly four months after the explosion that leveled his home and left him badly injured, Cliff Hannon of Oakland is sharing his story and thanking the many people supporting him.

Hannon is still recovering at a rehab facility in Waterville after surviving the explosion on Thanksgiving.

Holding a tattered photo of his family salvaged from the wreckage, Hannon reflected on his survival.

“It was a miracle that I even survived initially. And then it took some more miracles that I made through the first week,” Hannon said.

The explosion, likely caused by a propane leak according to the state fire marshal’s office, scattered debris throughout the neighborhood.

Despite the destruction, Hannon maintains his sense of humor, saying, “The explosion destroyed two of my neighbors’ homes, and they still like me,” with a laugh.

Hannon continues to heal after being impaled and having two large wounds on his backside, with 50% of his body burned.

“I gently rubbed against something today, and my skin was so tender that I looked down on my hands, bleeding,” he said.

After being sedated for nearly two months at Maine Medical Center, Hannon is now at Lakewood Healthcare Center in Waterville, where he has received numerous letters from friends and acquaintances.

He expressed deep appreciation for the support from neighbors, first responders, medical teams, and everyone who has reached out.

“My first non-family that visited me in Portland, they walked in the door, and I started bawling. It was just, I couldn’t believe where I was. I couldn’t believe I was alive,” Hannon said.

A fundraiser held late last year and a video of attendees offering encouragement particularly moved Hannon.

“One of the nurses comes in. She could tell I was crying, and she says, ‘Are you crying?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m happy.’ I said, ‘I’m just so happy.’ You know, watching the video and listening to the people say, get well and good wishes. You know, I was balling by the time I got through it,” he said.

Hannon isn’t sure when he will be able to leave the rehab facility, but he hopes to return to normal health and community service by Thanksgiving, as he is heavily involved in organizations such as the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club. He also praised his wife, calling her a “hero” throughout the recovery process.

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.

DOJ to investigate Maine over transgender inmate at Windham women’s prison

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Russ Reed

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    WINDHAM, Maine (WMTW) — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it notified Maine Gov. Janet Mills of the beginning of a federal investigation into whether the state engages in a pattern or practice of housing transgender inmates who were assigned male at birth in women’s prisons.

The DOJ said it will specifically investigate allegations that Maine has allowed a transgender inmate who was assigned male at birth to remain housed with women at the Maine Correctional Women’s Center in Windham despite complaints that the transgender inmate has assaulted or harassed several female inmates.

The Justice Department also said it will launch a similar investigation in California and has notified Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“Keeping men out of women’s prisons is not only common sense — it’s a matter of safety and constitutional rights,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “The Trump administration will not stand by if governors are facilitating the abuse of biological women under the guise of inclusion.”

“Incarcerated individuals can be particularly susceptible to having their rights violated,” Andrew B. Benson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine, said in a statement. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Maine citizens, no matter where they live, and will work with our colleagues in the Civil Rights Division to ensure that this vulnerable population is protected from harm while housed in state custody.”

The DOJ noted that it has not reached any conclusions regarding allegations in these matters.

“Despite the Department of Justice’s claims, this is yet another politically motivated, predetermined investigation designed to target states that stand up to the Trump administration and its abuses,” a spokesperson for Mills said in an email to Maine’s Total Coverage political reporter Jackie Mundry.

“The Department of Corrections takes resident safety concerns very seriously. Anytime a resident makes a report of physical violence or harassment to staff, the department investigates,” a Maine Department of Corrections spokesperson said in an email to Mundry. “If the conduct that occurred rises to the level of a crime, it is referred to the [District Attorney] for prosecution. If it violates the department’s disciplinary policy, the residents involved are disciplined.”

The announcement from the Justice Department comes nearly a year after Bondi said all nonessential federal funding had been pulled from the Maine Department of Corrections because a transgender inmate was being held in a women’s prison. Bondi made that announcement during an appearance on the Fox News program “Fox & Friends” on April 8, 2025. A graphic run during the interview showed that the Maine DOC was losing more than $1.5 million in federal grants.

Bondi did not mention the inmate by name, but did say the inmate had killed their parents and a dog in a stabbing.

Maine’s Total Coverage previously covered a double-murder case in which the convict was transgender. Andrea Balcer, who went by Andrew at the time of the crime in October 2016, was sentenced to 40 years in prison in December 2018, nearly three months after pleading guilty to stabbing their parents and the family’s dog to death.

A search of the Maine DOC online database on Thursday shows Andrew Balcer, who has a listed alias of Andrea Balcer, is serving a sentence at the Maine Correctional Women’s Center in Windham.

The Women’s Center is in a separate housing unit of the Maine Correctional Center in Windham and has a capacity of 86 inmates, according to the Department of Corrections.

Days after the nonessential federal funding for the Maine Department of Corrections had been pulled, Bondi announced that the DOJ had filed a lawsuit against the Maine Department of Education. Bondi argued that Maine violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes who were assigned male at birth to compete in girls’ sports.

Mills and her administration have argued Maine has allowed transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports in order to be in compliance with state law, namely the Maine Human Rights Act.

The Maine Department of Education has argued the Title IX case was one made in political retaliation after Mills challenged President Donald Trump during a February 2025 confrontation over transgender athletes participating in women’s and girls’ sports. That heated exchange happened during a National Governors Association event at the White House, during which Mills told Trump: “We’ll see you in court.”

A judge has ordered both sides to be ready for the Title IX case to go to trial by April 1.

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.

‘Criminals from head to toe’: Charlotte men charged after luxury car-theft ring busted

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Chloe McCoy

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    CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (WYFF) — Two men have been charged in connection with what officials are calling a multi-million-dollar luxury car theft ring that spanned ten states and was funded by “violent” drug trafficking.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina says the ring spanned North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Missouri.

Agents arrested 43-year-old Andre Lamar Sumner and 40-year-old Erren Woodson, both of whom pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of marijuana.

According to filings, the FBI and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department had been tracking a high-end stolen vehicle ring involving luxury cars and trucks from car dealerships, rental car companies and private individuals across the United States.

Sumner allegedly operated as a “fence,” or someone who works as the middleman and finds buyers for stolen property, for the company.

Officials say Sumner’s role was to fence high-end stolen vehicles such as BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, as well as trucks and other expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and RAM.

Sumner would then sell the cars at a price much lower than the market price after altering the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and fraudulently registering them in various states.

According to court documents, Sumner physically possessed or had knowledge of at least 31 stolen vehicles estimated to be worth more than $2 million. He also kept some of the vehicles for personal use.

In September 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sumner’s home and found four stolen luxury cars with fraudulent VINs.

During the search, officers found 71 pounds of marijuana, approximately two pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, three firearms, approximately $118,619, as well as narcotics packaging, money counters, a vacuum sealer and digital scales.

Woodson was also alleged to be an armed drug trafficker who reportedly received eight stolen cars from Sumner and regularly discussed the stolen cars and prices. His involvement as a drug trafficker helped fund the purchase of the stolen cars, reports say.

In December 2023, law enforcement searched Woodson’s home and seized 86 pounds of marijuana, seven pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, nine firearms, $586,000 and two stolen vehicles.

Sumner was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison, and Woodson was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months.

“Sumner and Woodson were criminals from head to toe – driving around in expensive stolen vehicles, engaging in fraud, and dealing drugs with piles of guns and ammunition,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson.

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.

Fire destroys popular bar and restaurant, community rallies to show support

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Yazmin Rodriguez

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    SOUTH CONNELLSVILLE, Pennsylvania (WTAE) — Fox’s Tavern in South Connellsville, Fayette County, was destroyed by a fire, leaving the community in shock and prompting a local fundraiser to support the popular bar and restaurant.

“That’s my bar, and it had a big hole through the center of it. Everybody is very sad,” kitchen manager Lee Shroyer said.

The fire erupted shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday after neighbors heard a popping noise at Fox’s Tavern. The flames quickly spread.

“The fire was coming through the roof. It was only about a hole that big. And then, in, like, five minutes, it was like probably about 10 feet across,” said Jesse Driscoll, who lives directly behind the restaurant.

“The firefighters, they’re locals, they come here all the time. They were crying because, you know, you go to these places every day or every weekend, and you probably don’t realize how much it becomes a part of your life until it’s gone,” Driscoll said.

In response, the local owner of Coffee at Crawford is stepping in to help.

“We decided at the coffee shop that we wanted to do something for the Fox family, and we came to the agreement that it would be best if we did a basket fundraiser,” owner Susanna Flesik said. “This was me saying, ‘OK, what can I do that wouldn’t be just me sitting around and praying for the family?'”

The fundraiser idea quickly gained traction.

“Immediately, everybody was like, ‘I’ll donate, I’ll do a basket, I’ll do a gift certificate, where do you want me to bring it?’ And so, it just kind of snowballed,” Flesik said.

Starting Wednesday, April 1, the baskets will be on display at the coffee shop for community members to bid on.

Winners will be announced the following week at the coffee shop and on Facebook Live, with all proceeds going toward Fox’s Tavern.

“I’ve seen us rally. I’ve seen businesses and just individual people rally around this community, and I really knew that if somebody started something that everybody would rally around his family,” Flesik said.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and the state fire marshal is investigating.

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Florida couple fights to reclaim 50 French bulldogs worth $1.2 million seized from home

CNN Newsource on March 27, 2026

By Terri Parker

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    FORT PIERCE, Florida (WPBF) — More than 50 French bulldogs, allegedly worth about $1.2 million, are at the center of a courtroom fight in St. Lucie County, where a Fort Pierce author and podcast host is trying to get the dogs back after the city seized them from her home.

Aimee Cabo Nikolov and her husband, Boris Nikolov, say they were breeding the dogs to improve the French bulldog line. But the city of Fort Pierce alleges the animals were found living in poor conditions and should never be returned.

The city alleges the dogs were found in distress and living in bad conditions. Court filings describe dozens of dogs allegedly kept in crowded areas throughout the property, with some animals found in cages and spaces described as covered in feces.

Investigative Reporter Terri Parker was inside the courtroom during the four-day trial, where Cabo Nikolov took the stand and denied abusing or neglecting the dogs.

“There has been no abuse or neglect. I love these dogs. This is a travesty of justice,” Cabo Nikolov told Parker after the hearing.

Nearly 50 dogs rescued from overwhelmed owner in Palm Beach CountyNearly 50 dogs rescued from overwhelmed owner in Palm Beach County Investigators say they seized more than 50 dogs from the home because the animals were in distress and some later proved to be sick.

Because there is also an active criminal investigation, police have not yet released the pictures and video taken during the seizure.

The case involves a breed with a high price tag. French bulldogs are among the most expensive dog breeds in America, with some puppies selling for tens of thousands of dollars. The dogs in this case are alleged to be worth about $1.2 million.

French Bulldog4 suspects face charges for stealing 19 French bulldogs from Port St. Lucie home During cross-examination, Cabo Nikolov was asked whether she had 50 to 60 dogs in her home in May and June of last year.

“I don’t know. I didn’t count them,” she answered.

Court testimony also established that Cabo Nikolov did not have a breeder’s license.

And even though investigators found a website called AngelWing Frenchies advertising her puppies for sale, Cabo Nikolov testified she did not recall having a website where she was selling dogs.

Outside the courtroom, Parker asked Cabo Nikolov why she had so many dogs if she was not selling them.

“I’m an artist. I want to improve the breed. I feel that the Frenchie breeds, that we’ve lost some of the Frenchie breed’s structure,” Cabo Nikolov said.

But according to court filings, investigators allege Cabo Nikolov was not just breeding French bulldogs. The filings say she was trying to create a new breed by mixing French bulldogs with poodles, dogs that are not recognized by the American Kennel Club.

When Parker asked why she was moving in that direction if she says she wants to restore the breed, Cabo Nikolov responded that there are shows beyond AKC events and described herself as more of a hobby breeder.

“There’s many different shows. You don’t have to show at the AKC shows. There’s different shows that are offered. There’s also hobby shows, and I consider myself more of a hobby breeder, being that I’m just in it to improve the breed,” she said.

There is another twist in the case.

Cabo Nikolov’s lawyer told Parker the case is fabricated and involves fake 911 calls and altered evidence reports. A former city employee testified that she discovered some reports had been changed after the raid.

The FBI was also involved at some point, though it is not yet clear why.

At stake are more than 50 dogs, allegedly worth $1.2 million, and two sides fighting to keep them.

The trial is set to continue next Tuesday.

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.