Category: CNN Regional

By Hanna Lopez

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    KEWAUNEE, Wisconsin (WGBA) — A neighborhood dad known as ‘Cabbage’ has been grilling at Kewaunee High School games for over a decade, and the nickname has become just as well-known as the man behind the grill.

Jeff Christian or ‘Cabbage,’ or as just about everyone in Kewaunee knows him has been grilling up burgers at local games for the last ten years.

“They come down here and say, ‘Oh, you grillin’ again, Cabbage?’ And I say, ‘Yeah, I’m grillin’ again,” Jeff “Cabbage” Christian said.

Even the sports director and front office staff at Kewaunee High admit, they’ve been calling him ‘Cabbage’ for so long, they can’t remember his real name.

Around here, the name Cabbage is well known and it didn’t come out of nowhere.

“My mom said, ‘Get home as soon as possible after football practice,’ so I just showered and left my hair [wet],” he said. “Then I blow-dried it, and it came out to here and my head coach said, ‘Hi, Cabbage Head, how ya doin’?”

Kewaunee head football coach Randy Charles has known Cabbage for years he even played football alongside his sons.

“I always know the guys look forward to it. If he grills up a few too many burgers during the game, they know they’re getting some afterward. I think they kinda count on it and maybe he even does that on purpose. I know they appreciate it,” Randy Charles, Kewaunee head football coach said.

Cabbage says he keeps coming back because he loves the people and as long as Coach Charles keeps asking, he’ll keep manning the grill.

This Friday night, he’ll be at Kewaunee high school, grilling for the varsity football home opener.

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By Jolie Sherman

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    HOLLY, Michigan (WXYZ) — After 74 years, the remains of Korean War soldier William Arlo Wheeler have been identified and brought home, allowing his family to finally lay him to rest with full military honors at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly.

“Not everybody answers the call. Not everybody is willing to do a service that goes well beyond ourselves,” said a military representative during Tuesday’s ceremony.

Wheeler was just 18 years old and had served in the military for less than a year when he was killed in a surprise attack on August 31, 1950. Initially, he was thought to be missing in action (MIA), but the military declared him dead four years later.

His brother, Gary Wheeler, explained that William’s body was found three weeks after the attack, but identification was impossible at the time.

“Because people take things, they steal things [from] dead bodies. There were no dog tags; they didn’t know who he was,” Gary said.

Wheeler was one of 10 children, with only three siblings still alive today. They attended his funeral Tuesday, marking the end of what they described as a “black cloud” that had hung over the family for decades.

“You know when you’re a puzzle and when there’s a part missing, it’s just not complete, and that’s how I felt,” Karen Sallen, Wheeler’s sister, said.

The family spent decades searching for William Wheeler, eventually believing it might be impossible. But in 2024, they received a call from the military confirming his remains had been identified.

For years, Wheeler’s remains were at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii, where unidentified soldiers are interred.

“He was identified as ‘Unknown X181’ to the military,” said Gary. “[But], the military never gave up, they never gave up to find out who is this unknown soldier, and they did it for us.”

Modern DNA testing finally provided the answers the family had sought for generations.

“It really is beyond words,” Karen said.

Though his living siblings have no personal memories of their brother, they remained committed to finding him and bringing him home.

“He was blood…he was blood,” Karen said.

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

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By David Collins

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WBAL) — Baltimore authorities arrested six people and seized a kilogram of fentanyl, guns and $16,127 in cash as part of a major drug bust.

City police said this amount of fentanyl could have had a widespread and significant impact.

“According to the (Drug Enforcement Administration), it could kill approximately 500,000 people,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley told 11 News.

Police on Wednesday said the Southwest District Action Team raided houses, one in the 1800 block of west Lombard Street in Southwest Baltimore and another in the 900 block of Dalton Avenue in the Eastpoint neighborhood of Baltimore County, last week. It was all part of a monthlong investigation that focused on the Wilkens Avenue and Dover Street areas of the Carrollton Ridge neighborhood.

“Basically, it started with a community complaint,” Worley told 11 News.

In addition to the fentanyl, police said they seized 1,100 capsules of suspected fentanyl, a rifle, a Polymer80 ghost gun, cash and large quantities of packaging materials.

Police identified six people who were arrested as follows: Eric Taylor, 32 Derrick Stewart, 33 Matthew Brown, 41 Natasha Wilkins, 44 Elijah Dukes, 19 A 17-year-old girl

“They were able to put that case together in a month and take at least six criminals off (the street), and they may not even be done with all of the arrests,” Worley told 11 News.

Residents told 11 News they’re pleased with the bust, but they wonder how long before someone else takes up a similar operation.

“I would just like to see drugs and guns off the streets,” said Alfred Dorsey, of Baltimore. “Mental health is a problem. Drugs, mental health and poverty. It makes it hard.”

Others said the community lacks jobs and hope.

“Nobody wants to be out here, that’s the last resort,” said a Baltimore resident who identified himself as Mr. Baker. “People do what they got to do. There are no jobs, no opportunity for people.”

Since the police drug bust, the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement is responding by providing services from city, state and federal partners. Officials advised anyone who is still linked to, or even loosely connected to the drug operation to seek the resources, to stop selling drugs and put the guns down.

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By Karin Johnson

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Desean Brown pleaded guilty to murdering his girlfriend, Nyteisha Lattimore, and her three-year-old son, Nylo in 2020.

In exchange for pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated murder, the death penalty was taken off the table.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge sentenced Brown to life in prison without parole.

After Wednesday’s hearing, Rodrick Lattimore, Nyteisha’s father, expressed his devastation over the loss of his daughter and grandson.

“It ripped my heart out when it happened,” he said.

Lattimore directed his anger at Brown, saying, “I just want this guy to know that you had no right to put your hands on my daughter, to murder my daughter and my grandson the way you did. What did you do to my grandson? When you go to that prison, you’re going to talk, and when you do, I’ll be waiting. I want to know what really happened to my grandson.”

Earlier in court, Brown kept his head down as he pleaded guilty.

Hamilton County assistant prosecutor Seth Teiger said Brown stabbed Nyteisha in the neck 11 times inside her Walnut Hills apartment on Dec. 5, 2020.

Teiger detailed the events following the murders, explaining, “That next day, early Sunday morning around 4, he took Nylo in his own stroller to the Purple People Bridge and threw Nylo and the stroller into the icy cold Ohio River.”

Days later, Brown ordered a body bag on eBay.

“On Friday, 12-11-2020, he ordered an Uber. He took Nyteisha’s body in the body bag to the Uber to the Purple People Bridge, where he had originally killed Nylo,” Teiger said.

Her body, when he threw that over the bridge, got stuck on a ledge, and a security guard found her body and called police. Despite extensive searches, Nylo’s body was never recovered.

Nyteisha’s father said he’s satisfied with the sentence because he said the death penalty would have been the easy way out. Still, he admits no punishment will ever be enough.

“Go to where you need to go, go to hell. That’s where you need to go, go to hell,” Lattimore said.

Lattimore said his family prays, often shares stories about Nyteisha and Nylo, and honors their names as a way of healing.

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By Brian Sherrod

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    AURORA, Colorado (KCNC) — It may not feel like it, but winter is coming, and the City of Aurora already has it in mind, specifically with winter snowplow operations. Snow plow drivers aren’t just getting ready for the winter; they’re training to compete in the Snow Roadeo.

Dozens of Aurora city employees are dusting off their training this week, while having some fun as well. City workers say once they are done this week, they will be even more prepared for the snow, especially since the city plows up to 1,600 miles of roadway during a single winter storm.

This hands on training gives drivers the chance to use their plow blades appropriately while maneuvering around parked and moving vehicles. The course, at the Aurora County Fairgrounds, takes about three and a half to four minutes to complete.

Each driver and team is then judged based on their speed and abilities. Even though the ground is dry and snow free, city workers say these days are the best days to train.

“The time to practice is now when there is no snow on the ground,” Mark Tamburro, Street Operations Manager for Public Works, said. “It is a lot safer. We have a lot of new employees. This whole week is about training for them.

The winners from this week will represent in the American Public Works Association’s Regional Snow Roadeo in Loveland later this month. This will feature drivers from several western states.

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By Daisy Kershaw

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Three young students were shot and killed in a murder-suicide in Mt. Washington.

Cincinnati police confirm the shooter knew at least one of the victims, saying there was a ‘romantic interest’.

A family member of Feven and Eden Adugna, two of the people killed in that shooting, says that Eden reported the shooter, Samuel Ericksen, to police about a month before he killed her, her sister, and their friend Bemnet Deresse.

“We learned, she called 911 after the second date,” said the girls’ uncle, Negash Adugna. “The police went to his family’s house. We heard that he’s, his gun was locked in the safe… But in 22 days, this happened.”

Negash took his nieces in after their father killed their mother in Ethiopia in what he says was a “domestic violence situation.”

On Tuesday, outside the Beacon Street apartment complex the girls called home, at the vigil for Feven, Eden, and Bemnet, Negash shared how painful it is knowing they died the way they did.

“Just keep rewinding and rewinding until I get the answer,” said Negash.

We sat down with Kristin Shrimplin to talk about dating violence in the wake of this tragedy.

She’s the CEO and President of Women Helping Women, an organization that helps survivors of sexual assault and violence.

“This year, we are on pace to serve 10,000 survivors. We’ve never seen that before,” said Shrimplin.

They’re concerned with a trend in Southwest Ohio, saying of the sexual, domestic, dating, and interpersonal violence reports they receive, their data shows more than half of the victims have experienced serious physical harm like choking.

Shrimplin says it can happen at any point in a relationship.

“Dating violence pops up after people have been broken up, you know, intimate partner violence pops up after people have broken up. In fact, that’s when violence and stalking can increase,” she said.

When we asked how people can help those experiencing violence, she laid out some of the best ways to be there for them.

“When anyone raises their hand and describes what they’re going through and if they feel there’s a pattern, and it’s traumatic, then it’s really important to listen, believe, and then connect them to help if that’s what they want,” Shrimplin said.

If you want to know more about the resources available to you or anyone who may be experiencing violence, visit: womenhelpingwomen.org

You can contact Women Helping Women’s 24/7 support line at 513-381-5610.

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By Chloe Keith

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    HUNTER, Ohio (WLWT) — A suspect is in custody after an hours-long standoff in Franklin Township Thursday morning, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Crews were dispatched to a home on Post Rail Lane around 10:40 a.m. after a neighbor reported gunshots and screaming. The neighbor also reported a bullet struck their home.

A responding deputy approached the house when a man in the top window pointed a shotgun at them and said, “I’ve got something for you,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Additional units were called in for backup and the man eventually dropped the shotgun but refused to leave the home.

The Warren County Task Force Response received a search warrant, broke the front door with a battering ram, and used gas to get the man outside. He was taken into custody around 1:15 a.m. and faces charges including inducing panic, aggravated menacing, and vandalism.

No injuries were reported.

Alcohol or drugs may be a factor, the sheriff’s office said.

This story was curated by Hearst’s WLWT Alert Desk.

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By Olivia Hickey

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    NORMAN, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Dozens gathered at the University of Oklahoma’s campus in Norman Wednesday night to pay their respects to Charlie Kirk with a candlelight vigil organized by the OU chapter of Turning Point USA.

The vigil took place at the campus’s South Oval, where mourners left behind bouquets of flowers. Turning Point USA is known for educating students on conservative values, and efforts were underway to have Kirk speak on the Norman campus.

“Charlie Kirk held so many views that were important to me,” one attendee said. “He was willing to have the tough conversations that no one else was.”

Attendees with differing political views honored Kirk through music, prayer, and a candlelit vigil. One attendee expressed disagreement with Kirk’s views but felt he shouldn’t have had to die while sharing his political ideas.

“I’ve never been a fan of that sort of media, but just video and seeing it and the way that he died was horrible,” the attendee said. “I just wanted to come and show respect.”

The vigil wrapped up around 8:30 p.m., with attendees saying the best way to honor Kirk and carry his legacy is to continue sharing their values while being respectful of others.

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By Ben Kaplan

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — Two heroes from Central Iowa will be honored Saturday night for their bravery and the inspiration they’re giving to others.

Albia fifth-grader Lennox Craig and Ankeny’s Tricia Busch are two cancer survivors who have been named the pediatric and adult Honored Heroes at the annual Light the Night walk in Ankeny on Saturday.

The event is hosted by Blood Cancer United, formerly the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Lennox was diagnosed with leukemia when she was just 5 years old, right in the thick of the pandemic.

“It was a whirlwind,” her dad Cory Craig recalls, saying it “just happened all at once.”

Cory tells KCCI that Lennox complained that her arm was asleep. Ten minutes later, he says she came and got them again, and that she became extremely lethargic and stopped responding.

“So, we just literally said, we got to go now,” Cory said.

They rushed to the hospital, and before they knew it, their 5-year-old was life-flighted to Iowa City.

“I remember them telling us that it was oncology and hematology and taking us. I knew instantly; my brother had cancer as a kid. We knew exactly where we were headed. And I remember looking at him and saying, ‘It’s cancer,'” Lennox’s mom, Jessica, said.

The first thing Lennox said she remembers is, “Waking up in a hospital bed.”

Tricia Busch’s journey was similar in that it seemed to come out of nowhere.

“We were watching the Cowboys play the Vikings. We were walking to U.S. Bank Stadium, and I was just struggling to breathe,” Tricia said.

That was in 2022. A trip to urgent care when they returned from Minnesota turned into an immediate visit to the emergency room, where they drained a bag full of fluid from her lungs.

“And sure enough, they found a tumor the size of a softball in my chest,” Tricia said.

The diagnosis was lymphoma. It came five years after she beat thyroid cancer.

Like Lennox, Tricia was in for a multi-year battle against the disease.

The mother of three, who always wanted to be a mom, is now in remission. Lennox is two years off treatment. They will both be at Saturday night’s Light the Night at DMACC in Ankeny, located at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd.

The Opening Ceremony and Walk begin at 7:30 p.m. There are fireworks afterward.

If you would like to attend, sign up a team, donate or just want to learn more about Light the Night, you can go here: lightthenight.org/events/des-moines

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