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Articles by Jennifer Rodriguez
Is Walmart closing Nov. 1 as SNAP benefits run out for millions? What to know
As the government shutdown continues, millions of people will lose SNAP benefits in November. With that comes social media chatter about store closures; but is it true? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is set to “run dry” Nov. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As millions of Americans prepare for the loss of food assistance right before the holidays, online rumors circulated that Walmart will be closing its doors as a direct effect.
Three men ransack Amish home, try to kidnap 8-year-old boy, Ohio cops say
Three men forced their way into an Amish man’s home, assaulted and robbed him then tried to kidnap his son, authorities said. Getty Images/iStockphoto One man is in jail after police in Ohio say three men forced their way into the home of an Amish family, robbed them and tried to kidnap an 8-year-old boy. “This crime in our county is particularly disturbing,” Geauga County Sheriff Scott A. Hildenbrand said at an Oct. 14 news conference streamed by WEWS. On Oct.
24-year-old posing as teen to attend high school pleads guilty, OH officials say
School officials said a 24-year-old man pretended to be a teen and enrolled in high school. Google Street View Image October 2021 © 2025 Google A 24-year-old man pleaded guilty to charges after officials say he pretended to be a teenager and attended an Ohio high school for over a year. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, false statement during purchase of a firearm and two counts of making or using false writings or documents.
22-year-old landscaper shot dead in argument over grass clippings, Ohio cops say
One man is dead and another man was arrested after police say an argument over grass clippings led to a 22-year-old landscaper being fatally shot. Travis Jackson, 36, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and discharging a firearm. On Sept. 18, Dunham’s Lawn Care worker Tanner Staggs was working at a home in Dayton when an argument broke out between him and his client’s neighbor, WDTN reported. Then, shots were fired.
Ex-teacher now accused of killing couple hiking with kids in park, AR cops say
Police in Arkansas have made an arrest in connection with a couple killed while hiking with their young daughters. James Andrew McGann, 28, is charged with two counts of capital murder, according to a July 30 news release from the Arkansas State Police.
Girls, 3 and 5, die trapped under flipped boat as adults swim to shore, TX cops say
Two young girls drowned after getting stuck under a capsized boat in a Texas lake, police said. Getty Images/iStockphoto Two children are dead after a boat capsized in a Texas lake, according to authorities. Around 8 p.m. June 22, a boat on Cedar Creek Lake lost its power and capsized, Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse told KLTV. First responders arrived at the scene around 9:30 p.m. Due to the boat being overloaded, as well as the winds and waves, it capsized and began to sink, he said.
Mom reported 3-year-old was abducted, now she’s charged with murder, MD cops say
Two people are charged in connection to the death of a 3-year-old girl in Maryland. On June 10, Darrian Randle, 31, reported to police that her 3-year-old daughter was kidnapped at gunpoint, according to a Facebook post by the New Castle County Police. Randle told officers she pulled over when her daughter Nola became upset and a man came to her vehicle with a gun and took Nola, police said. An Amber Alert was issued for the girl.
Man fled cops on mule, later released raccoon in bar he was banned from, KY cops say
A Kentucky man is accused of releasing a raccoon into a bar he was banned from. Photo by fr0ggy5 on Unsplash. A Kentucky man accused of taking police on a chase while riding a mule was arrested after police said he released a raccoon into a bar he was banned from. Around 9:15 p.m. June 6, the Murray Police Department was called for reports of a man who intentionally released a raccoon into a business, according to a June 10 Facebook post by police.
Inmate was tied up and tortured by other inmates at Ohio prison, reports say
An inmate at a private prison in Ohio is suing after he says he was tied up and assaulted by other inmates while it was livestreamed. A lawsuit was filed against the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, owned by CoreCivic, on May 28, according to court records. McClatchy News reached out to CoreCivic on June 4 for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Fight between parents breaks out at AR elementary school graduation, reports say
Authorities in Arkansas are investigating after a video posted on social media showed a fight between parents at an elementary school graduation, news outlets report. The video showed the moment several adults got into a physical altercation at Faulk Elementary School in West Memphis, WMC reported. It happened May 28 as parents and families were at the school for a kindergarten graduation, according to WHBQ.
Woman killed after large tree falls on her car while she’s driving, PA police say
One person is dead and another was injured after a large tree fell on two vehicles in Pennsylvania. Around 1:45 p.m. May 18, a 59-year-old woman was driving a Toyota Corolla and a 64-year-old woman was driving a Nissan Altima westbound on a road in Lower Merion Township, according to a police report. A “large” tree fell onto the road and struck both vehicles, police said. The 59-year-old woman was seriously injured and died at a hospital, according to police.
Cemetery worker covered in dirt had been digging to steal gold ring, IN cops say
An Indiana man was arrested after police said he dug up a grave in search of a gold ring. A Fishers police officer was patrolling near Oaklawn Memorial Gardens on May 12 when they noticed a “suspicious” vehicle, according to a news release from police. The vehicle was empty, but the officer saw a gun and drug paraphernalia, police said. While the officer was at the vehicle, a man walked out of a wooded area “covered in dirt from head to toe,” police said.
Family called CPS repeatedly before toddler found dead in freezer, MI suit says
Chayce Allen, 3 years old, was found dead inside a freezer in a basement in his Detroit home in 2022, according to a lawsuit. Screengrab from WJBK. A Michigan man is suing after he says child protective services failed to protect his 3-year-old son who was found dead in a freezer in his mother’s basement. The federal lawsuit filed March 31 lists 13 defendants employed by Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Protective Services Division.
Substitute teacher offered student $2,000 to kill her husband, Ohio officials say
An Ohio substitute teacher was arrested after officials said she tried to hire a student to kill her estranged husband. Stephanie Demetrius, 44, was arrested April 2 on a charge of felony conspiracy, according to court records. Demetrius was a substitute teacher at the Academy for Urban Scholars High School in Columbus, according to WCMH. McClatchy News reached out to Demetrius’ attorney and the Academy for Urban Scholars for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Cop shoots 15-year-old as he throws toy gun on ground, raises hands, OH suit says
A former Akron, Ohio, police officer is being sued after a parent says he shot their 15-year-old son who was holding a toy gun. The lawsuit was filed April 1 in Summit County against Ryan Westlake. Attorney information for Westlake was not immediately available. McClatchy News reached out to the Akron Police Department April 3 for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Doctor leaves half a fetus inside woman after abortion in Illinois, lawsuit says
A woman is suing an Illinois doctor after she says he performed an abortion on her and left half a fetus behind. The lawsuit was filed March 21 against Equity Clinic in Champaign and the doctor who performed the procedure. McClatchy News was unable to reach anyone at Equity Clinic and is not naming the doctor since he has not been criminally charged. On April 1, 2023, the woman went to Equity Clinic to start the process of an abortion, according to the lawsuit.
Baby dies after he’s laid face down to stop crying, NE officials say. Mom sentenced
A Nebraska woman was sentenced in two separate cases after officials say her 4-month-old baby died at the hands of her boyfriend. Both she and the boyfriend also were accused in a sex assault case involving a teenager, authorities said. Ashlen Zitel, 28, was sentenced to six years of probation and 120 days in jail, to be served 30 days at a time between 2027 and 2030, with the opportunity to have it waived, according to KOLN.
‘Absolutely terrified.’ Man punches plane window until passengers restrain him, feds say Original
A man was restrained on a flight from Denver to Houston by other passengers. Photo by Ross Parmly on Unsplash A 31-year-old man was arrested after prosecutors say he started punching a window in the middle of a flight. The man, who is a Cuban national, was taken into custody on unrelated charges, according to a Feb. 28 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. He was later charged with damaging an aircraft, according to court records. On Feb.
Facial recognition falsely IDs mom as attempted murder suspect in Michigan, lawsuit says
A Michigan woman has filed a lawsuit after she says she was wrongfully arrested due to faulty facial recognition. The lawsuit lists the City of Detroit and several Detroit Police Department employees as defendants. A representative of the city of Detroit told McClatchy News that facial recognition was not used and was not what led to the woman’s arrest. On Jan.
‘Bored’ inmate kills new cellmate within hours for being Black, gay, Wisconsin suit says
The family of a former Wisconsin inmate is suing after they say he was killed by his cellmate just hours after being placed together. The federal lawsuit filed Feb. 25 lists several individuals as defendants, including the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Green Bay Correctional Institution staff. In a response to a request for comment, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections told McClatchy News in an email it does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Principal pulls gun on 2nd-graders, KY lawsuit says. ‘Going to feed you to the wolves’ Original
A Kentucky woman is suing her son’s former principal and school district after she says the principal pulled a gun on her son and another student and threatened to kill them. The 7-year-old boy was a second-grade student at Hartstern Elementary School in Louisville, which is part of Jefferson County Public Schools, in 2019, according to a civil complaint filed Jan. 7. McClatchy News reached out to Jefferson County Public Schools for comment but did not immediately hear back. On Sept.
Postal worker caught using Amazon gift cards swiped from Christmas card, feds say
A U.S. Postal Service worker is accused of stealing gift cards from the mail in Missouri. Joseph S. Wilkins, 56, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of mail by a U.S. Postal Service employee, according to a Dec. 10 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri. McClatchy News reached out to Wilkins’ attorney on Dec. 11 but did not immediately hear back. From December 2023 to April, Wilkins stole 10 to 12 gift cards from the mail, prosecutors said.
Man ‘prayed a blessing,’ then circumcised boy at home with utility tool, officials say
A man and woman are accused of performing a circumcision on a boy at home, leading to him needing medical treatment. Getty Images Getty Images/iStockphoto Two people are charged with child abuse after officials say they performed a circumcision on a boy at a Missouri home. On Nov. 28, a Department of Family Services employee called 911 to report that a child had been circumcised at home, according to a criminal complaint. A Morgan County Sheriff’s deputy went to the home and spoke with a man there.
Woman couldn’t sleep after seeing her huge lottery prize in Michigan. ‘Such disbelief’
A Michigan woman was in disbelief when she learned she won a huge jackpot on a second chance lottery game. The 65-year-old woman was chosen randomly in a drawing for the BIG CA$H second chance game, according to a Dec. 2 news release from the Michigan Lottery. The Oakland County woman earned entries for the giveaway when she played the games online. Then, she got an email saying she won.
Relative forgets to leave baby at day care, then child dies in car, Florida cops say
Authorities in Florida are investigating after they say a 15-month-old baby was found dead in a car. Deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were called to South Sumter Middle School in Webster at 4:18 p.m. Nov. 1, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. When deputies arrived, they found an infant dead, the sheriff’s office said. The 15-month-old was “unintentionally left unattended” in a car parked at the school, deputies said.
Child ‘slowly starved to death’ in Minnesota, feds say. Now woman is going to prison
A Minnesota woman was sentenced in connection to the death of a child that authorities say was severely neglected until she died. Sharon Rosebear, 64, was convicted of felony child neglect, according to court records. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison. McClatchy News reached out to Rosebear’s attorney but did not immediately hear back. In 2022, Rosebear was a caretaker for a female child, according to an Oct. 8 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
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