Category: CNN Regional

By Malcolm Shields

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    MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — A woman on the Treasure Coast was arrested on fraud allegations.

Meghan R. Pagano, 38, was arrested Sept. 1 in Martin County and charged with practice of medicine without an active license and criminal use of personal ID information.

Court documents note that on April 22, an official with the Florida Department of Health contacted a detective with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a complaint about Pagano.

The complainant told the detective in a May meeting that they were informed that Pagano was using the complainant’s name and medical license on social media to administer Botox, fillers and other cosmetic procedures.

The complainant was concerned that their name was being used in association with medical procedures they were not performing.

It is believed Pagano had been doing the procedures for more than a year.

In July, the detective received another complaint about Pagano practicing medicine without a license.

The second complainant provided photos taken from Pagano’s Instagram account showing Pagano doing medical procedures.

The second complainant told the detective that they knew Pagano personally and that Pagano did not have the proper licensing to do the procedures posted on the social media account.

As of Monday, Sept. 8, the Instagram and Facebook accounts associated with Pagano are no longer active, but a website related to her company, Treasure Coast Aesthetic & Wellness Center, is active.

Court documents note that the detective was able to find the Instagram account, and on the account, it listed the name of the first complainant in the bio.

An Instagram video dated Jan. 5 showed an individual later identified as Pagano using a small needle to take multiple vials of blood from a person’s arm.

The video then shows the vial being mixed with other substances and filled into multiple syringes. Pagano is seen injecting the liquid filled syringes into the head of an unknown person.

Another video on July 19 allegedly shows Pagano inject a substance into a large lump/cyst. A scalpel is then used to cut into the flesh, cutting out a large cyst while the individual is bleeding.

A hand is seen using the scalpel to cut the cyst from the skin. The wound is stitched closed.

Law enforcement also confirmed that Pagano never held a license to perform the procedures shown on the Instagram account.

Law enforcement was able to determine that Pagano held a license for massaging or treating the face or scalp with oils, creams, lotions or other preparations along with permanent removal of hair using equipment.

On Thursday, Sept. 4, Pagano entered a not guilty plea. She is out of the Martin County Jail on $20,000 bond.

WPBF 25 News is awaiting a response from Pagano’s attorney about the charges.

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By Tony Atkins

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — A 70-year-old Orlando woman says she had to fight off a pit bull to save her dog during a sudden attack outside a grocery store.

Shirley Pasamanick told WESH 2 she was leaving the store on Sept. 1 when a pit bull bolted toward her 14-year-old dog, Sparky, and latched onto him.

“It just out of nowhere bolted at us,” Pasamanick said. “And I did everything I could. We ended up on the ground.”

Surveillance video shows Pasamanick, who weighs about 90 pounds, using her cane and her hands in an effort to pry the dog off. When that didn’t work, she said, she resorted to biting the pit bull on the back of its neck.

“I couldn’t open his mouth,” Pasamanick said. “So … I bit him. I had to! I’m 91 pounds! I have no strength!”

The tactic worked long enough for a man — who Pasamanick says deputies are trying to identify — to pull the pit bull away. The man then walked off with the dog on a leash.

Sparky survived the attack but is still shaken, Pasamanick said. She credits the senior dog with giving her strength and purpose.

“Really, he’s the reason some days I get up,” she said. “You gotta take care of your dog.”

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By Hunter Walterman

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    LEHIGH ACRES, Florida (WFTX) — Newly released body camera video shows a boar charging at Lee County deputies. The massive animal forced it’s way into a Lehigh Acres home Thursday afternoon.

“There was this huge explosion. It was like a shotgun, only much louder,” said 82-year-old Edward Wells, who lives in the home. “I thought, ‘oh my God,’ we’re being bombed.”

Wells told FOX 4 the animal attacked his dog, Bailey. Then the animal broke through the back door of the home, shattering a sliding glass door. It stood in the living room for about 40 minutes, Wells said.

“He sounded like he had a stoke, because all he was saying was ‘giant pig and broken glass,’ ” said Stacy Wells, Ed’s daughter. “And that to me made no sense.”

That is, until Stacy got to the house.

“I walk in his door, and my God, there was a giant, 300-pound black, wild, board,” Stacy said.

The Sheriff’s Office released an edited version of the incident that shows the boar repeatedly charging at deputies.

“Easy, easy,” one of the deputies can be heard saying as the animal runs toward him. The boar continued to charge the deputy narrowly missing him. The video shows deputies repeatedly tried to lasso the boar with a rope before it ran away.

“It’s going east towards the woods,” one of the deputies can be heard saying.

Bailey, the dog, is recovering after Thursday’s incident. Bailey needed some stitches, Stacy said, but would be fine.

Earl Rivera with High Wind Shutters stopped by the house Friday evening to replace the sliding door for free. Rivera said he heard about what happened after his wife shared a Facebook post, and decided to help out.

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By WXYZ News Staff

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    MACOMB COUNTY, Michigan (WXYZ) — The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office responded to a boat explosion at a harbor in St. Clair Shores on Saturday.

According to the sheriff’s office, the marine division was dispatched to Emerald City Harbor around 12:35 p.m.

Video shows the boat with two people and a dog getting fuel at a gas dock. As it pulled away, the boat exploded.

The people on the boat were thrown into the water, and witnesses were able to assist them. They sustained minor injuries; however, the dog died from its injuries.

By the time deputies arrived on scene, the boat was almost fully submerged with large pieces of debris in the water. The vessel was no longer on fire.

Deputies say foul play is not suspected, but the investigation is ongoing.

Video shows the boat with two people and a dog getting fuel at a gas dock. As it pulled away, the boat exploded.

The people on the boat were thrown into the water, and witnesses were able to assist them. They sustained minor injuries; however, the dog died from its injuries.

By the time deputies arrived on scene, the boat was almost fully submerged with large pieces of debris in the water. The vessel was no longer on fire.

Deputies say foul play is not suspected, but the investigation is ongoing.

After the incident, Mark’s Fuel Dock posted about the explosion. “We are grateful for the quick actions of everyone who responded and for the support from our community,” the post reads.

“It was mine and my husband‘s boat, thank you for everything your staff did to help us during this situation. We are heartbroken over losing our dog and what happened, and I really appreciate everyone that has reached out to check on us,” Maggie Barnett posted in the comments.

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By Mike Anderson

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    LAYTON, Utah (KSL, KSL-TV) — The family of Angela Hansen is asking for lots of love and support as she works through her family’s second major tragedy.

Her 22-month-old daughter, Ada, was struck and killed by a truck while Hansen was cleaning the family minivan at a car wash Friday. In addition to that, she lost her husband, Kyley Hansen, to drowning at a family pool party on the Fourth of July in 2023.

Angela Hansen’s sister, Lauren Paskett, said the family is doing its best to come together for Angela Hansen.

“Everybody is beside themselves, you know,” Paskett said. “They’re distraught. It’s a horrific accident.”

She also worries for the well-being and mental health of the driver of the truck that struck Ada. It was parked next to the minivan.

“We just need to show more support for both parties,” Paskett said. “I feel so terrible for him to have to live with this the rest of his life.”

Paskett said her sister had pulled into the car wash vacuum station Friday with her two younger kids. She said Angela Hansen usually parked right next to the playground there, but ended up parking across the way because it was busy. Ada and her 4-year-old sister were in the playground while mom cleaned. At some point, Paskett said Ada called for her mom and her sister tried to help.

“She opened the gate and let her sister out because she wanted mom. So she was holding her hand and walking her back to mom,” Paskett said, explaining that the truck pulled out at that moment. “The 4-year-old is just distraught and beside herself, you know, because she witnessed the whole thing.”

A friend of Angela Hansen’s from a widow support group put together a fundraiser* for the Hansen family. Paskett said her sister is trying to get Ada buried with her dad, making arrangements for a service that is only days away.

“It’s just a huge loss for our family, especially since it was like her last piece of her husband that she had,” Paskett said.

And while she does not know the 18-year-old man who was behind the wheel of the truck, she wants to make sure he gets the support he needs too.

“We worry about the driver’s bills that he’s going to need therapy and counseling. We just want peace for everybody,” Paskett said. “So we hope that that can happen. If anybody wants to reach out, I’m happy to talk to them and let them know about our forgiveness for the accident.”

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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By Ashley Mackey

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    HOLLYWOOD, California (KABC) — The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the gruesome discovery of a body inside an impounded Tesla at a tow yard in Hollywood, and Eyewitness News has learned the vehicle is registered to singer D4vd.

Officers responded to the 1000 block of N. Mansfield Avenue shortly before 12:30 p.m. Monday to a report of a foul odor coming from an impounded vehicle, according to LAPD.

Police say the impounded car had been at the property for a couple of days, and that the body had been placed inside a bag. There’s no immediate information about the identity of the person found inside the Tesla.

D4vd is scheduled to perform in Minneapolis on Tuesday as part of his “Withered” world tour that began last month. The tour stops in Los Angeles on Sept. 20.

Authorities say the human remains were found in the front trunk of the Tesla.

Eyewitness News has learned that the 2023 Tesla is registered in Hempstead, Texas to D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke.

Video from AIR7 showed police yellow tape encircling the Tesla, along with several parked vehicles, in the impound lot with a white canopy set up nearby.

Eyewitness News has reached out to D4vd’s representatives and are still waiting for a response. The 20-year-old musician is known for the songs “Here with Me” and “Romantic Homicide.” He released his debut album earlier this year.

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By Hailey Gravitt

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    LAS VEGAS, Nevada (KTNV) — Inside a colorful workshop space, some veterans are finding something they lost long ago: hope.

Through paintbrushes and woodworking tools, a Las Vegas nonprofit is helping former service members battle invisible wounds that traditional therapy sometimes can’t reach.

Vietnam veteran Gary Scaife knows firsthand the challenges veterans face when returning home. His experience shaped his mission to create Help R Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to healing through hands-on creativity.

“When I returned from my tour, we were spit on. No one welcomed us back even though we fought for our country… so when I saw how these vets were being treated, I was heartbroken,” Scaife said.

So Scaife built something of his own, a nonprofit where veterans put their pain on paint.

“I need to be doing something with my hands… this place has really helped me; I’m 90 days sober,” said Mikhal Tippin, a participant in the program.

Tippin, who goes by Max, is a Navy veteran and has always tried to look for help on his own. But his sister’s new addition to the family gave him a new perspective.

“She just had her fifth kid, and she named him Max. So that really resonated with me and made me step up to the plate,” Max said.

Help R Heroes alone can’t heal them — they need the community’s help.

The nonprofit needs volunteers, community support and mentors that remind veterans they aren’t alone.

“You can volunteer, come and thank all veterans for all they’ve done for us,” Scaife said.

Help R Heroes offers multiple crafting programs throughout the month at different Las Vegas locations.

Woodworking and acrylic pour classes are held at US Vets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 10 a.m. These classes are exclusively for veterans.

Additional woodworking, candle-making, and quilting classes are offered twice a month at the Help R Heroes workshop on Western Avenue. Classes are tentatively scheduled for the second Saturday and third Monday of each month, with sessions at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

These classes are free for veterans and their spouses. Civilians can also participate for a $35 fee, which helps sustain the free programs for veterans.

Scaife founded Help R Heroes in 2021 after recognizing that veterans face PTSD, alienation and financial struggles.

“Veterans are able to use their hands and their minds again, as part of a group. It gives them a purpose. And the business gives them a direction,” Scaife said.

Veterans can register for classes at helprheroes.charity.

Non-veterans can support the organization by purchasing veteran-crafted goods at the Made in Nevada online shop.

Volunteers can reach out online at helprheroes.charity.

The nonprofit has partnered with US Vets at 525 E. Bonanza Road and the North Las Vegas Veterans and Community Resource Center at 3090 E. Centennial Parkway.

From canvas to community, Scaife says he’ll keep creating space for veterans as long as there’s a need.

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By Naja Woods

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    MCCORDSVILLE, Indiana (WRTV) — After a recent story highlighting McCordsville’s efforts to preserve its historic post office, one resident reached out to share her own remarkable connection to local postal history. She became the first Black Postmaster of the town in 1985.

Norma Florence, 84, has spent most of her life working in post offices across Central Indiana—from Camby to Broad Ripple. But in 1985, she made her mark in McCordsville in a historic way.

“When I die, I think I’m gonna be postmaster in the sky,” Florence said.

Her love for the postal service started early.

“I told my mother when we were little, I’m gonna be postmaster,” she recalled.

That dream came true when Florence was appointed the first Black postmaster of McCordsville, and one of the first Black women to hold the role in the state.

“I said, I’m your new postmaster, and they looked at each other like, wow,” she said, reflecting on her first day in the position.

Florence acknowledged she was breaking racial barriers at the time.

“I was Black and it was all white town, but we got along good… I can get along with a rock, I think I get along with anybody,” she said.

“I’m Norma Florence and I always went anywhere I wanted to go, and nobody stopped me from performing where I wanna go.”

Her service didn’t go unnoticed. The U.S. Postal Service recognized Florence for her work, and soon, residents were expressing their gratitude in the form of letters and notes.

“It makes me feel that I was doing a good job,” she said.

Her dedication left an impact that extended far beyond McCordsville.

During her tenure, McCordsville resident Florence May was serving in the U.S. Army in Saudi Arabia.

“It was the best thing that could happen when you’re out in the desert is that you get that envelope with your name on it,” May said.

“It’s a hard life living in that type of experience. The best thing in the world was to get the letters from home.”

May, now a Vernon Township Trustee, says those letters helped her get through tough times.

“Mrs. Florence had a huge part in bringing these letters to me, but also in delivering my letters from the desert back to my family,” she said.

The two women—connected by name and purpose—share a bond that goes beyond the mail system.

“She was really delivering my family to me and delivering me to my family… you really see how important the post office is,” May told WRTV.

For Florence, that mission was always about more than just a job.

“I thought everything has got to make it right no matter what,” she said.

And while she’s now retired, she’s proud of the legacy she left behind.

“I was lucky I went to a good place with good people. I got to know them, they got to know me. It was a good experience and something I’ll always remember. They still remember me.”

When asked if she believes she left her legacy in McCordsville, she answered simply:

“I did.”

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