Category: CNN Regional

By Jarvis Robertson

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Charles “Sonny” Burton, an Alabama man on death row, is scheduled for execution next month.

Gov. Kay Ivey officially set the execution window for between midnight Thursday, March 12, and 6 a.m. the next day.

Burton was one of six men involved in a 1991 robbery at an AutoZone in Talladega, which resulted in the shooting death of customer Doug Battle, an Army veteran and father of four. Although Derrick DeBruce was the one who pulled the trigger, both he and Burton were convicted and sentenced to life.

DeBruce was later resentenced to life in prison, while Burton now faces execution.

Criticism surrounding Burton’s execution is growing, with many arguing that the punishment does not fit the crime.

Rev. Jeff Hood, an activist and spiritual advisor to death row inmates, is advocating for Burton’s execution to be commuted. He is not the spiritual advisor for Burton.

“It’s crazy to think that the State of Alabama thinks it’s OK to kill somebody that ain’t killed nobody,” Hood said.

Attorney Eric Guster explained the legal reasoning behind Burton’s harsher punishment, noting that Alabama law holds individuals responsible for deaths occurring during crimes they were part of.

“The level of punishment is wrong. The conviction seems like it was accurate, but based in Alabama, the law states if you were a part of a crime and a death occurs, you’re responsible for the death,” Guster said.

He added that separate trials can lead to different outcomes, as juries are not allowed to consider actions or convictions from other trials unless used for testimony or evidence impeachment.

Despite the absence of her father, the victim’s daughter is advocating for Burton, which Guster believes should influence Ivey’s decision.

“Gov. Ivey’s decision should weigh heavily on what the daughter says. This is a family member. This isn’t some stranger making an appeal,” Guster said.

Hood and other activists continue to speak out against Burton’s execution, highlighting his age and health issues.

“A 75-year-old man in a wheelchair, who they’re going to have to lift up on a gurney, they’re going to have to take his helmet off; with his rheumatoid arthritis, they’re going to have to straighten his bones out,” Hood said.

Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall supports the execution, stating, “Burton was convicted of capital murder in April 1992, and that the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. That conviction and sentence have been upheld at every level.”

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 Jamie Azulay

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    WINTHROP, Maine (WMTW) — Eighty-nine-year-old Bill Drake passed away at Maine Medical Center in Portland one week after going into cardiac arrest at United Fitness in Winthrop. His wife, Florence, now says the gym’s owner, Ryan Chamberland, is the reason her husband survived that week.

Drake was riding a stationary exercise bike before his senior fitness class on Thursday, Jan. 29, when his heart stopped. A young woman working out nearby ran to find Chamberland for help.

Together, they called 911, and Chamberland started CPR. He said, “I was checking for airways, checking pulse, trying to get him to wake up. I did a couple sternum rubs on him.”

Chamberland participates in regular CPR and first responder trainings with his leadership team. He said this experience reminded him how important those trainings are.

Florence Drake is a former EMT. She hopes her husband’s story will inspire people to go through the training. She said the doctors applaud Chamberland for his efforts, and scans revealed the cardiac arrest caused no additional heart damage to an otherwise healthy man.

She said, “He was described as an 89-year-old male who presents as a 70-year-old.” Florence and Bill loved to travel and spend time with Bill’s sons at their lake house.

One of those sons, a specialized charge nurse in California, has offered to donate an AED to the gym as a way to say thank you. Chamberland was glad he could help and hopes others will feel inspired to act when people are in need.

He said, “Be kind. Help someone. If there’s an opportunity to help someone, help them.”

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 Jacob Murphy

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    ORONO, Maine (WMTW) — Superbowl LX will be an exciting rematch game for the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The last time they faced each other at the Super Bowl, an indigenous mask connected the teams thousands of miles apart.

Known as the “Kwakwaka’wakw,” it was traditionally used in winter dances and ceremonies by tribes in the area of the Pacific Northwest. It’s a transforming mask, looking like a bird when closed but opening up to reveal the face of a person.

In 2014 Hudson Museum at the University of Maine Orono reached out to a museum on the west coast that was looking to find the mask that inspired the Seattle Seahawks logo. The Seahawks were fresh off of their first Super Bowl win.

“This is not an arena that museums traditionally play in,” said Gretchen Faulkner, Hudson Museum’s current director.

Hudson Museum loaned out the mask so that the Seattle community could embrace this piece of the team’s history. Faulkner said it wasn’t her intention, but it ended up being a good luck charm for the team.

“It was my worst nightmare because once the mask got there, the Seahawks did not lose a single game. And they lined up with the Patriots,” Faulkner said.

That was Super Bowl XLIX. Thankfully the mask wasn’t enough to beat the Patriots who won by a score of 28-24.

Faulkner says unlike other Native American iconography that has historically been used, this symbol has remained strong for the Seahawks because it does not involve Indigenous stereotypes.

“It is an object to both the general public and the Native American and First Nations communities can embrace it, celebrates their culture,” Faulkner said.

When it was first designed 50 years ago, it was based on a black and white image of the mask which may explain why the colors are different.

Now the mask is back in the possession of the Hudson Museum. Faulkner plans to keep it that way.

“I really didn’t think it was in the cards that the Seahawks and Patriots would again go to the Super Bowl paired against each other. So, here it is,” she said.

Despite having this relic from the seahawks on display at the museum, Faulkner confirmed she will be rooting for the Patriots during Super Bowl LX. But, regardless of the outcome, it will remain on display.

The Hudson Museum is free and open to the public.

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 Rachel Williams

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    STUART, Florida (WPBF) — Logan Hayes made a selfless decision to save a pregnant woman from a sinking car near Stuart.

On Friday morning, the Sebastian man stuck in traffic going south on Interstate 95 when he noticed the vehicle sinking in a pond near a rest stop in Martin County. Without hesitation, he ran, jumped into the water, and swam to the car.

“I was just kind of dumbfounded, to be honest. Like, I just couldn’t believe that happened. Couldn’t believe that at that exact moment I happened to be driving by at the exact time,” said Hayes, who briefly spoke exclusively with WPBF on Saturday.

Hayes swam to the car and found the back passenger door was the only one still above water.

“I swam up to the car, the back passenger door was the only door that was … luckily, it was the closest door as well as it was kind of the only door that was still enough above water,” he said.

When he encountered the woman, Hayes said she was panicking and asking how to get out. He instructed her to come to him.

“And so, she comes in between the two front seats and climbs … she’s coming into the backseat. The car is now starting to tilt more and roll down and more over. It’s water flooding the car,” Hayes said.

Hayes, who works on a private sport fishing boat, is no stranger to water but had never rescued anyone before.

“I’ve had other instances where I’ve helped people to shore, surfing and all kinds of stuff, but I definitely felt way more control in those instances,” he said. “As comfortable as I am in the water, to feel like I was capable being able to do something like that.”

He said when they were getting ready to swim back to shore, that’s when he realized she was expecting.

“She landed in the water next to me, and I grabbed her around her hips just to hold it because I didn’t know what or where she was going to go, like, what was going to happen if she could swim. So, when I was holding her, that’s when I realized she was pregnant because obviously I was wrapped around her and could feel her stomach,” Hayes said.

As Hayes swam her back to shore, Martin County Fire Rescue crews arrived minutes later. Fire rescue divers entered the water to confirm no other occupants were inside.

“It clicked like a different level of how crazy this was. And so, I swam her to shore, it’s like 40 or 50 feet from where the car was sunk. But I mean, when I got a hold of her and turned around, the car was already under the water and gone,” Hayes said.

Hayes later spoke to the fiancé of the pregnant woman, who expressed gratitude for saving her. Hours after the rescue, the woman gave birth to the baby at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Piece. The condition of the mother and baby is currently unknown, but updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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 Alan Campbell

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    MIAMI (WESH) — A Miami resident cloned his Boston Terrier, Lucas, after the dog died of lymphoma, preserving their unique bond through a genetic replica.

Luiz Hoinkis, who got Lucas in 2017, described the dog as his best friend and soulmate, accompanying him on travels to dozens of countries.

“What Lucas and I have is very unique,” Hoinkis said, reflecting on their special relationship.

After Lucas’ death, Hoinkis explored cloning and collaborated with Colossal Biosciences and Viagen to create a clone of Lucas.

“The people that I spoke with always gave great feedback,” Hoinkis said about his decision to pursue cloning.

The process takes about 80 days and costs $50,000.

“The price is like, look at this … this achievement,” Hoinkis said, acknowledging the financial commitment.

Matt James, chief animal officer at Colossal Biosciences, explained the cloning process: “We’re using a technology called somatic cell nuclear transfer, or as we call it, cloning.”

He added, “As the cell lines begin to proliferate in a dish, we can actually extract the nucleus from those cells and drop them into an egg cell of that animal.”

From there, an embryo is created, and a surrogate dog carries the embryo until a genetically identical pup is born.

“We’re able to guarantee that we can make a clone of that dog, assuming that the cells we collected were healthy cells,” James said.

Despite the high cost and potential risks, such as the clone inheriting the same genetic issues as the original dog, Hoinkis has no regrets.

“It’s almost like it never happened, like he never left me,” he said, describing what it’s like to have Lucas’ clone.

“Do you have any regrets of cloning your dog?” WESH 2’s Alan Campbell asked.

“Not at all. I would have regretted it if I hadn’t,” Hoinkis replied, emphasizing the joy and comfort the clone has brought him.

Cloning pets is gaining popularity, with celebrities like Barbara Streisand, Paris Hilton and Tom Brady also opting for it.

Brady, whose dog Junie is a clone of his late dog Lua, expressed his gratitude in a statement: “I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family. In a few short months, Colossal gave my family a second chance with a clone of our beloved dog.”

Luiz cherishes every moment with Lucas’ clone, saying, “Every minute I’m with them, it’s worth it.”

Currently, there is a seven-month waiting list for those interested in cloning their dogs.

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 Natacha Casal

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    ARCADIA, Florida (WBBH) — Ryan Thomas is adjusting to life after a hit-and-run accident in Arcadia on Jan. 21, where a pickup truck crashed into his motorcycle and fled the scene. Thomas was taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center as a trauma alert, and his immediate thoughts were of his family.

“The first thing is, you know, call my kids, call their mother, and tell them that I love them all. My mom, so I could tell her that I love her. But at the same time, I didn’t want to have to make that phone call because I didn’t want the heartbreak to happen to them,” Thomas said.

Eight days after the crash, the Florida Highway Patrol impounded the truck involved, but the driver remains at large.

Today, Thomas’s leg is amputated below the knee, his hand is broken with several pins in place, and he cannot move his other hand. Despite these challenges, his spirit remains strong.

“The message is, I know that it can be tough, but try to find your blessings where they’re at. Focus on the positives that you know,” Thomas said.

Although Thomas does not know who crashed into him, he has a message for the driver.

“Just know that I forgive you. You know I still love you, have no hate in my heart. And then I hope that, you know, you can realize I serve a God who forgives. And if he forgives me for everything that I’ve done wrong, who am I not to forgive you?” he said.

Thomas expressed gratitude to everyone at Gulf Coast Medical, OPC Prosthetics, the officers who helped save his life, and Encompass.

He remains optimistic about his recovery journey, saying, “I understand that it’s going to be a long road to recovery, but it’s not anything that can’t be adjusted to. Like, I’m still here, able to be a brother, a cousin, an uncle, a son, but most importantly, a father to my three kids.”

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.