Category: CNN Regional

By Mariana La Roche, James Stratton

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    WEST ALLIS, Wis. (WISN) — A 4-year-old boy died after being found unresponsive in West Allis, leading to the arrest of two suspects.

According to the West Allis Police Department, the incident began when the West Allis emergency dispatch center received a call Saturday around 8 a.m., from a mother driving to the hospital with her unresponsive son.

Dispatchers told the woman to stop near a West Allis Fire Department station on 108th Street (Highway 100) and Greenfield Avenue, where they provided CPR instructions.

Fire department personnel arrived at the scene, rendered aid and transported the boy to Children’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police arrived at the scene to initiate an investigation. Officers arrested the parents, a 21-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both from West Allis.

The medical examiner identified the child as Dante Campbell.

According to search warrants obtained by 12 News, when the family woke up Saturday morning, the father told police the boy was “stiff” and “smelled bad.”

Records show he told police the child had fallen down the stairs Friday night, but court records indicate photographs showed bruises “on all sides of his body” that were inconsistent with a fall.

Before contacting emergency services, the parents dropped off Campbell’s twin at a friend’s house near 114th and Walker. A search warrant states the mother told the friend, “I need to go to the hospital my son is not breathing. I think he is dead!”

During interviews, the mother described the boy’s father as being “heavy handed” with disciplining the children, the search warrant states.

Police executed a search warrant on Cruz’s Chevrolet Malibu, 2004 model, where they discovered a gray child’s shirt with apparent bodily fluids.

The West Allis Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau continues to investigate the case, which will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office for review and potential criminal charges.

Police are not seeking any additional suspects.

WISN 12 News spoke to Rosy Hudson, a family member who says she took care of the boy and other kids for years.

“He was my baby,” she said Monday.

She said she, another family members, are all devastated.

“I was planning for graduations, girlfriends, their college,” she said. “I wasn’t planning for any of this. He wasn’t even given a chance.”

Hudson created this GoFundMe for funeral arrangements and to help the other children in the family.

Hudson said she and other family members reported abuse of Campbell to the Wisconsin Child Protective Services several times in the last few months.

Monday, a CPS spokesperson tells WISN 12 News CPS can neither confirm nor deny any investigation, citing confidentiality laws.

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By Shay O’Connor

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — An emotional scene as loved ones remembered a beloved sous chef who was killed in an armed carjacking on Sept. 30.

WDSU reporter Shay O’Connor was live from outside of Brennan’s restaurant along Royal Street in the French Quarter where Morgan worked. Those who knew and loved the chef said he would not be forgotten. She caught up with his crew at Brennan’s who said they will always remember his infectious personality.

Thomas Jones said, “He was always able to share food with love. Service first. But tasty little snacks next.”

“He was a total comedian … he made everyone laugh even if you wanted to or not,” said Alvin Bentley.

“Peanut” said, “He made a name for me. ‘Peanut.’ Because I couldn’t remember anything in the kitchen. I had just started working there.”

Chef Morgan’s crew at Brennan’s remembered his life, along with Morgan’s family and other loved ones who traveled to New Orleans from other states. They all said Morgan loved his family.

Bentley said, “He talked about his girlfriend everyday. There wasn’t a day that didn’t go by that he didn’t talk about his son. Especially with the Disney trip.”

Morgan left his mark in the culinary field, training those who wanted to learn to cook, like Shallin, who is from Zimbabwe.

“One day I burned something. I said, ‘Sorry chef, I burned this.’ He said, ‘Don’t be sorry, Shallin, be better.’ He was that person. He would push you to the limit … And that’s what I loved about him.”

The sous chef was shot and killed in late September while attempting to pick up his 2-year-old son from day care, just a block away from where his funeral was held weeks later. His partner and son seen releasing butterflies at his service.

Before a second line in his honor outside of the restaurant where he gave his all.

“There’s no chef like him.”

Morgan’s crew said they called themselves the Party Kitchen. They said they will miss Morgan’s fried chicken sandwiches, an all-around Brennan’s favorite.

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By Anna Behning

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    OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — The Omaha City Council will vote on an amended ordinance to ban homeless encampments on public property at the city council meeting on Tuesday. The ordinance is proposed by Councilmember Brinker Harding.

The new amended version highlights a diversion program for people charged with living in an encampment. The ordinance states that someone found living in an unlawful encampment will be given a 24-hour notice to close the encampment.

The amended proposal says the diversion program, a problem-solving court, would be developed and utilized by the city prosecutor. Violators of the ordinance could face up to 30 days in jail and a fine, no more than $300, or both.

Councilmember Harding says his main concerns are harm to public property, health, and safety of the city.

Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. says he does not support any ordinance on homeless encampments, until his pilot program is given a chance, including improvements between the city and outreach groups.

The meeting is at City Hall at 2 p.m.

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By Emily Sanderson, Danielle Dindak

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the “effectiveness of her leadership.”

Stephen Imm, with the Finney Law Firm representing Theetge, states she has “no intention” of resigning.

“There is no justification for this action,” Imm said during a press conference Tuesday, stating Theetge was placed on leave on her 35th anniversary of her joining CPD.

Imm states Theetge was asked to resign late last week, but has no intention of resigning and they are working to get her back to work.

“She is a dedicated public servant, this is in her blood, her DNA, she wants nothing more than to be a servant,” Imm stated.

Imm claims Theetge is being used as a “political scapegoat” saying the city has not claimed to have a cause for removal.

Imm claims Theetge has brought forth several ideas to combat crime, including engaging with county judges on low bonds, but said the mayor would not move forward with that proposal.

When it comes to next steps, Imm states they are considering all options.

Imm states removal, he believes, would be a violation of constitutional rights.

“The chief’s sincere hope is the city will rethink this hasty and unlawful decision and reinstate her to her position promptly,” Imm said.

When asked what Theetge is doing since being placed on leave, Imm said right now, she is simply on leave and still absorbing what has happened in the last 24 hours.

Imm said when she was advised late Monday afternoon, she packed up some personal items and left City Hall. He said he was the one to deliver the news to Theetge.

Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long, who placed Theetge on leave, states the move comes “pending an internal investigation on the effectiveness of her leadership in the Cincinnati Police Department.”

Assistant Chief Adam Hennie has been named interim chief.

“The City continues to face serious public safety challenges that underscore the need for stability at the command level. Therefore, I’ve named Assistant Chief Adam Hennie as Interim Police Chief. Our focus remains on maintaining stability within the department and ensuring the highest standards of service to our residents. I have full confidence in Interim Chief Hennie and the department’s command staff to continue their dedicated work at this time,” said City Manager Sheryl Long.

Shortly after Imm’s press conference began on Tuesday, Long released another statement thanking Theetge’s service to the department and looking forward to the leadership Hennie will provide as interim.

“We respect Chief Theetge’s decades of service to the City of Cincinnati. Public safety is this Administration’s top priority and we are responsible for delivering on that for the public,” Long’s statement begins. “The City remains committed to a fair and transparent process that protects both the department and the people we serve. Interim Chief Hennie’s strong operational experience and steady leadership will help ensure stability as we complete this investigation.”

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval also shared a new statement Tuesday, saying, “I am grateful for Chief Theetge’s decades of service. I have full confidence in Interim Chief Hennie, and City Manager Long and I had the opportunity to meet with him and his Assistant Chiefs this morning.”

Pureval stated that during their meeting with Hennie, they talked about his plans for “greater use of technology, visibility, and rapid response to critical incidents – on top of spearheading the recommendations from the climate assessment.”

“At this moment and moving forward, our focus remains on keeping Cincinnatians safe,” Pureval said.

Imm also represents former Cincinnati Fire Chief Michael Washington. City Manager Sheryl Long fired him in March of 2024 because of concerns over workplace culture. Since then, the city has been slapped with a lawsuit. That case is making its way through federal court.

Up until last Wednesday, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval expressed full confidence in Theetge, but he later stated that due to ongoing violence, “all options are on the table.”

Imm stated Tuesday he believes the directive for Theetge’s leave came from the mayor.

The mayor responded to that claim, stating, “No, I did not direct this. This is an administrative issue and it’s the City Manager’s decision.”

Theetge is the first woman to lead the Cincinnati Police Department and has been on the force for more than 30 years. The future of her position lies in the hands of the city manager.

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By DeAndria Turner

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY) — A woman accused of killing her husband will now go in front of a grand jury.

Aleshia Reed is accused of shooting her husband, Shawn. She says it was a suicide. On Monday, she was in court for her preliminary hearing.

At the Hall of Justice, Shawn Reed’s family drove 10 hours to come face to face with the woman accused of murdering him.

“When she walked in and she couldn’t even look us in our face. She walked in and just sat down,” said Lola Morris.

Wearing shirts with Shawn’s face on them, his family sat in court, seeing Aleshia Reed for the first time since she was charged with murder.

The last time was at his funeral.

“At the funeral, she was fake. And seeing her in a courtroom. You are the same person who sat in the front row. The same person that you don’t have any emotions to this,” Morris said.

Prosecutors say in September, Reed shot and killed her husband in their St. Denis home, then claimed it was suicide.

But detectives say the evidence told a different story.

“The firearm was too great of a distance away from the deceased to have gone there on its own in the event that this was something that was self-inflicted,” said LMPD homicide Det. Michael Pugh.

Pugh testified the gun’s distance and wound angle didn’t line up with suicide.

“If you look at the firearm, the length from the end of the barrel to the trigger well from which the trigger would need to be squeezed, it would take, you know, every bit of your arm to do so,” Pugh said.

Investigators say Reed later admitted she moved the gun after the shooting. By the time her attorney began questioning the detective, Reed was in tears.

The defense asked for her bond to be lowered to $10,000, pointing out she’s never confessed, and hasn’t tried to run.

“There’s reasons that Mr. Reed might have killed himself. And the nature of defense shows that that Ms. Reed might be innocent here.”

They pointed to the loss of Shawn’s brother, who died just eight days before him, as one of those reasons.

But Shawn’s family doesn’t believe that. They say his death didn’t come from despair, but from domestic violence.

“We’re advocating for Shawn. We’re here for Shawn. Domestic violence when it surrounds men is something that needs to be. It needs to be put out there,” said Laura Morris. “He was definitely a victim of domestic violence. And in the end, it was his life that was taken from for that reason.”

Her case will go to the grand jury in November.

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By WYFF Staff

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    GREENVILLE (WYFF) — As Halloween approaches, Americans are expected to spend over $13 billion on costumes and decorations, according to the National Retail Federation.

That provides a boost to local businesses like Carolina Fashions in Mauldin.

Melodie McKnight and her son Oliver are dressing as pirates this year. Saving money is a major priority.

“We’re, like, working on one income right now. So, like, it’s a lot better first to save money than to spend it,” McKnight said.

Carolina Fashions has been a Mauldin staple for nearly 30 years, offering a vast selection in its 45,000-square-foot space. Robert Watson is the store manager.

And the store strategy, Watson said, is part of why they’re so popular.

“Yeah. You know, we keep it personal. And you won’t get that in the store that pops up two or three months a year,” Watson said.

Andrea Galehouse from the SC Small Business Development Center explained that small businesses have to know their audience and get creative reaching them.

“Small businesses really can’t compete on the same level as a big box store. So, they’ve got to look for ways to connect with their target audience and be able to find out what really makes their audience interested in shopping with them,” Galehouse said.

Makaila Stanley, traveled from Anderson to shop at Carolina Fashions.

“There’s a spirit Halloween maybe like eight minutes from my house. Honestly, but it’s so expensive. And what I like about this store is that it’s more like vintage,” Stanley said.

Despite the challenges posed by larger competitors, Watson said, “Competition can be scary, but it can be helpful. The pandemic and things that followed, really increased prices for a lot of people and stuff. So that competition with the higher prices actually has helped us.”

As Halloween approaches, local businesses like Carolina Fashions continue to attract customers with their unique offerings and personal touch. Their goal: to live to scare another day.

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