Category: CNN Regional

By Shelley Bortz

Click here for updates on this story

    BUTLER COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Two youth coaches who spent years mentoring children are now being remembered for the lives they touched after a devastating crash in Butler County.

Investigators said 38-year-old Cody Huffman of Harmony and 45-year-old Garrett Griffin of Cranberry died after their SUV slammed into a tree and burst into flames on Beacon Road in Penn Township on July 25. Investigators said Huffman died at the scene, while Griffin later died at a local hospital.

As investigators continue working to determine what caused the crash, those who knew Huffman and Griffin are remembering the lives they poured into young athletes. Between them, they spent years coaching baseball, football and basketball throughout the Seneca Valley community.

In a message to the community, Seneca Valley Raiders Baseball wrote on its Facebook page that the two were “much more than coaches. They were devoted husbands, loving fathers, mentors and role models who made a lasting difference in the lives of countless young athletes.”

The organization is also asking the community to keep both families in their thoughts and prayers and to continue surrounding them with love and support in the days and months ahead.

On Thursday, a neighbor told KDKA-TV that she heard the crash from her patio and described it as a sound she’ll “never forget.”

“We heard a short screech and an explosion,” neighbor Paula Grubbs said. “If it hadn’t been for the screech, I would have thought a house exploded, or someone was shooting Tannerite. It was so loud, and we felt the percussion.”

She said she immediately ran through her yard and straight toward Beacon Road, where she saw an SUV wrapped around a tree, with flames already beginning to spread. As the flames grew, she said neighbors began running from their homes.

“My neighbor had a fire extinguisher, and I had a fire blanket,” Grubbs said. “She jumped in my car, and we flew down there with that equipment. The man whose house it happened at ran and grabbed it and started trying to smash the window to get to the people.”

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the crash. Meanwhile, GoFundMe pages have been created to help both families as the community rallies around the wives, children and loved ones left behind.

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 Christopher DeRose

Click here for updates on this story

    ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — What would you do if you won over a million dollars? It’s a fun question to think about, but it is a question that 86-year-old Rita Franczyk now has to consider.

On Sunday, July 19, at the Giant Eagle in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Franczyk bought a $30 scratch-off ticket that made her a millionaire.

“I knew what it said, but I thought, ‘nah,'” Franczyk said. “I took it to the desk, to the clerk and she said, ‘Rita!’ And she had a tear. She cared that much that I won. That was so nice of her. So, we are both having tears. I called my daughter, ‘I’m a millionaire! I won a million dollars!'”

Franczyk says this was her second time playing the new Super Star scratch-off game. The first time she played it, she won $50.

This grandmother of three and great-grandmother of seven says she is grateful for the $1.5 million prize. And since her husband died a few years ago, Franczyk says she’s been living with her daughter and her family.

But now, she’s thinking it’s about time they all get a living upgrade.

“I would like to make a new residence for possibly her and her husband and me, if they’d like to come,” said Franczyk. “I would like to buy a ranch-type, small, average home and move.”

And when asked if she had any advice to lottery players out there who may be on the fence about trying a new game, Franczyk laughed and said, “Take the chance. It’s worth it.”

Franczyk says that just because she won big on this ticket, she’s not going to stop playing the lottery. She anticipates buying more scratch-offs, and who knows, maybe her luck will hold.

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 Ashley Paul

Click here for updates on this story

    WESTMINSTER, Maryland (WJZ) — Maryland health officials are warning swimmers about the presence of flesh-eating bacteria in the Chesapeake Bay.

There have been 29 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus — a flesh-eating bacteria — so far this year in Maryland waters, along with nearly 100 probable cases, according to Dr. Clifford Mitchell, the Director of the Environmental Health Bureau in the Maryland Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria thrive in warmer temperatures and can infect people through an open wound or by consuming contaminated shellfish, such as oysters or clams.

“So the bacteria is called Vibrio vulnificus. It is a gram-negative rod bacterium that naturally lives in marine environments and ecosystems,” said Dr. Cassandra Black, an infectious disease doctor with Carroll Hospital.

Doctors say the number of cases in Maryland is on par with last year but has increased compared to several years ago.

“Typically, we do see some up and down from year to year,” Dr. Mitchell said. “There are a lot of factors that go into that. How warm it is, how warm the bay waters get, how much people are recreating in the ocean, or the bay, and a number of other factors, as well.”

The Maryland Department of Health recommends people cover any open wounds with waterproof bandages before getting in the water, and if you suspect you might have Vibrio, to seek medical attention immediately.

But they say, don’t let it ruin your summer. The odds of contracting the bacteria are low.

“We want people to get out and enjoy the, you know, the beaches of Maryland and the shellfish and the other produce of Maryland,” Dr. Mitchell said. “We just want them to do so in a safe fashion, and with full knowledge of the risks that may be present when they’re doing that.”

What are the common symptoms of a Vibrio infection? The CDC says common symptoms of a Vibrio infection include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, redness, pain, warmth, discoloration, or discharge.

The CDC says Vibrio vulnificus can cause severe and potentially life-threatening infections if not treated. If untreated, it can lead to amputation or even death.

How to prevent exposure to a Vibrio infection Dr. Black says there are some things you can do to prevent exposure.

“If you are exposed to water, to an opened wound, then it should be cleansed immediately with saline, sterile saline, or fresh water, and even some mild soap and water,” Dr. Black said. “And then for the food-borne part of it, would avoid eating raw oysters if you’re able to, or making sure that the shellfish is well cooked.”

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 Adam Thompson

Click here for updates on this story

    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University was arrested by immigration officers while boarding a domestic flight this week.

A Johns Hopkins spokesperson confirmed that Fatima Ameaka, an employee at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, was detained while preparing to board a flight for a personal trip.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told our media partner, The Baltimore Banner, that agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) arrested Ameaka on July 28 at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport.

DHS said Ameaka entered the United States in 2023 on a visa that has since expired, and will remain in ICE detention while awaiting an immigration court hearing.

The detention comes as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement at U.S. airports amid increased collaboration between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and ICE, according to ICE sources.

“Though we cannot comment on the specifics of her situation, we want to assure our community that the university is actively working to provide support for Dr. Ameaka, including ensuring she has access to legal representation,” a Johns Hopkins spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added that the university is “deeply concerned” about ICE detaining Dr. Ameaka, who they described as “a respected member of our community.”

CBS News Baltimore reached out to ICE for comment but has not received a response.

ICE sources told CBS News that increased collaboration between TSA and ICE has fueled more reports of immigration arrests at U.S. airports.

Sources said that TSA has been giving tips and leads about noncitizen travelers to ICE, including information on immigrants who don’t have criminal records but are suspected of civil immigration violations, such as overstaying a visa.

In May 2025, TSA and ICE agreed to boost information sharing between the two agencies, according to a memo disclosed this week by the group American Oversight.

An ICE source told CBS News that undocumented immigrants traveling at airports are “easy targets” ICE agents can arrest in secured locations and while having information about their cases in advance.

In a statement to CBS News, Homeland Security confirmed that immigration enforcement at airports has increased.

“DHS reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country,” DHS stated. “Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this. This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”

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 Tammy Mutasa

Click here for updates on this story

    BILLERICA, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A U.S. Postal Service worker was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Billerica, Massachusetts, postal facility in broad daylight on Thursday. Billerica police say they were called to the sorting service facility on Brick Kiln Road at 4:25 p.m. for a report of a robbery.

Police say two men in a four-door black Cadillac displayed a handgun and demanded an arrow key, which opens collection boxes. The suspects then fled toward Chelmsford Street, according to police.

There were no reported injuries. People who were nearby when it happened say they’re shocked.

“It’s definitely strange, caught me by surprise,” said Marlon Felisberto. “Never seen anything like this before, it’s a very calm, quiet town.”

The robbery unfolded right next to a busy strip mall where police went door-to-door asking questions and looking for surveillance videos.

Billerica Select Board member Daniel Darris-O’Connor was having an ice cream social campaign event at a store in the mall at the time.

“This type of violence and threats and crime has no place in our community. We don’t often hear stuff like this happening in Billerica. Billerica is a safe place,” said Darris-O’Connor. “I’m shocked to hear that happened. I hope the person who was involved is doing good and is all right, that must be a super traumatic thing to go through. I have faith in our local police here and federal authorities all involved and hopefully they can get this person.”

Typically, criminals use the stolen keys to steal large batches of mail for check fraud, identity theft, and financial scams.

No one has been arrested. The incident is being investigated by the Billerica Police Department and law enforcement partners.

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 Neal Riley

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW SHOREHAM, Rhode Island (WBZ) — Rising ocean temperatures are drawing more hammerhead sharks to New England waters, researchers say.

The Rhode Island-based Atlantic Shark Institute said this week that it tagged a hammerhead shark off Block Island for the first time ever.

Executive Director Jon Dodd said in a statement that the arrival of hammerheads in New England and this “milestone” tagging “raises a lot of questions” about the sharks’ migration patterns and habitat use. The electronic tag on the shark will allow the institute to follow the shark as it moves along the East Coast for up to a decade or more.

“With our warming waters, many of the shark species that New England residents associate with Florida and southern states are finding our water temperatures much more attractive than they would have just 25 years ago,” Dodd said.

In an interview with WBZ-TV last year, state shark biologist John Chisholm said hammerheads are also becoming an increasingly popular sight off Massachusetts, “especially around the islands and south of the Cape where the water gets really warm during the summertime.”

Chisholm said he expects other southern shark species to start popping up in the Northeast, including the bull shark, which is known to be the most aggressive toward humans.

The shark seen off Rhode Island was a scalloped hammerhead, which can grow up to 11 feet and weigh up to 335 pounds. Their range typically only goes as far north as New Jersey, according to a government map.

Massachusetts beachgoers don’t have to worry too much about hammerheads. Chisholm described the species as a “fish-eating shark” that is generally not interested in humans, but people should still keep their distance due to the sharks’ sharp teeth.

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 Elijah Westbrook

Click here for updates on this story

    PASSAIC, New Jersey (WCBS) — Search crews will return to the Passaic River Friday morning to continue looking for a little girl who has been missing for more than a day.

First responders are looking for a 10-year-old girl after police say she and two other children were swept into the river while playing near a boat ramp Wednesday night. An 11-year-old girl survived, but the body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said crews have been searching along a nine-mile stretch of the river using boats, sonar and drones.

The search, starting at 9 a.m., will focus on the stretch near Rutherford. Officials say they have already searched the area from the Passaic-Garfield border to Newark.

Lora said there was a sonar hit under the bridge just after 11 a.m. Thursday. A diver went into the water, but the girl was not found.

“They are beginning to understand that this is a recovery operation. They are extremely hurt, but they are thankful for everyone, and the families have bonded together,” Lora said.

A small memorial has been created where pictures of the girl are posted on a bridge.

Overnight, the little girl’s family waited, hoping for some kind of breakthrough.

“She was just at Thanksgiving dinner last time I seen her. She was just a bundle of joy to be around,” said relative Darrel Meggins.

The mayor said the family has been surrounded by support from the community, which has been gathering along the riverbanks since the tragedy first unfolded.

“We are going to be here. I am going to be until we find her,” one woman said.

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 Alexa Herrera, Christina Fan

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Loved ones and community members will say their final goodbyes to Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a Queens resident who was killed overseas during the war with Iran.

Rampersad, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, died during a missile attack on July 17 at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The 28-year-old was initially listed as missing before military officials confirmed her death.

The Ozone Park community has been mourning her loss, remembering her as a “hometown hero” and a beloved daughter, sister, spouse and friend.

The funeral will be held at Calvary Assembly of God on Rockaway Boulevard. Hundreds are expected to attend, carrying yellow ribbons and American flags to honor her and the ultimate sacrifice she made.

CBS News New York will stream the funeral at 9 a.m. It can be viewed in the live player on this page.

Rampersad was born in Trinidad but grew up in New York. She attended P.S. 108, then Forest Hills High School, before graduating from John Jay College with a degree in criminal justice.

At a vigil Monday night, friends and neighbors described her as humble, down-to-earth and someone who lit up every room she entered.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are both scheduled to attend her funeral this morning.

The governor praised Rampersad for living a life of courage and selflessness while ordering state flags to be flown at half-staff.

Following this morning’s service, a funeral procession will travel down Cross Bay Boulevard. Members of the public are urged to line the streets to pay their respects as she makes her final journey home.

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 Larry Seward

Click here for updates on this story

    MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — Parents on Medicaid said their children with autism and behavior disorders are losing crucial therapy hours in South Florida.

The parents blame state cuts and insurance changes that keep some specialists away from patients.

Betty Garcia said her son Marcos, 14, is hurting. Therapy that helped him make friends and control outbursts caused by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has nearly disappeared, Garcia said.

Dozens of Miami-Dade County behavior therapy providers approved by the state for such services lost contracts with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The agency oversees Medicaid’s low-cost health coverage for the state’s lowest-income families.

Six months ago, her son’s therapy was cut from 30 hours a week to 8.

“He came home from school and told me, ‘ Mom, sometimes I feel like I am invisible,” Garcia said.

Garcia quit her job as a pharmacy tech to help manage her son’s behavior.

“He’s asking me, Mom, why is my heart crying right now,” Betty Garcia said. “I remember I was in panic because that is a hard description.”

The impact is visible. Rainbow Behavior Therapy in Kendall is mostly an empty office. Owner Aliana Gurris said the state canceled the business’ contract to serve Medicaid clients with no explanation.

“Nothing (in the letter talks) about something (being) wrong, about any complaints, nothing,” Gurris said. “Then, that’s it. Finished. Stopped. (They) withheld the payment and that’s it.”

She is not alone — another clinic told CBS News Miami the same thing in June.

Attorney Henry Marines believes the issue is getting worse. Marines represents therapy providers accused of fraud.

“None of the cases I represented, not one, did (AHCA) find any wasteful abuse,” Marines said. “However, they delayed payment of these agencies, and these kids were left without services because money was not coming in to pay the technicians for services being rendered.”

Sunshine Health, which manages Medicaid insurance coverage for AHCA, also drew blame from Marines for service delays. In 2025, Sunshine Health issued a temporary pause on adding practitioners to make sure the state’s network providers are all credentialed.

CBS News Miami messaged Sunshine Health and AHCA for comment. Neither responded before the deadline for this story.

It hardly surprises Garcia. Her son is now being offered medication to replace the lost therapy.

“I prefer not to talk about that,” Garcia said.

Her family worries they may never get another option.

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.