CNN – National

By Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — A member of a rare and endangered species related to the giraffe was recently born at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, according to zoo officials. The okapi, which zoo officials announced as a boy, was born December 17 to its mother, Kuvua, and father, Kiloro, a news

By Cindy Von Quednow, CNN (CNN) — A mystery donation of rare Air Jordans left at an Oregon homeless shelter earlier this year led to more than $50,000 in auction proceeds returning to the organization. It all started in April, when a pair of gold shoes were anonymously dropped down a donation chute at the

CNN By Sara Smart, CNN (CNN) — A North Dakota state lawmaker made homophobic and discriminatory remarks toward a police officer while being placed under arrest on DUI charges earlier this month, authorities said. On December 15, Republican Representative Nico Rios was arrested and issued a citation for a DUI, DUI refusal and an open

By Sara Smart, CNN (CNN) — A North Dakota state lawmaker made homophobic and discriminatory remarks toward a police officer while being placed under arrest on DUI charges earlier this month, authorities said. On December 15, Republican Representative Nico Rios was arrested and issued a citation for a DUI, DUI refusal and an open container,

By Andrew Torgan and Daniel Wine, CNN (CNN) — It’s safe to say that 2023 has been anything but boring with wars, wildfires, mass shootings and political upheaval dominating the headlines. And while good news seemed to be in short supply, the year wasn’t all doom and gloom. Check out our Good News Generator for

By Sarah Dewberry, CNN (CNN) — Police in Florida have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted in connection with a Christmas weekend shooting inside an Ocala mall that left one man dead and another injured on Saturday. Authorities issued the warrant for 39-year-old Albert J. Shell Jr. for premeditated first-degree murder and attempted

By Amanda Jackson, CNN (CNN) — Santa Claus has packed his sleigh with toys for all the good kids and he has made sure the reindeer are secured for takeoff. Now, they are traveling around the world to visit millions of households. While you are waiting to hear the jingle of bells in the air that means

By Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — A 90-year-old woman earned her master’s degree and marked a historic milestone in the process, becoming the oldest person to complete coursework at the University of North Texas, according to university officials. Minnie Payne, originally from South Carolina, finished her degree program in interdisciplinary studies online in July,

By Sara Smart and Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — A dog’s protective instincts kicked in when it scared off a moose that attacked its owner on a walking trail, according to Alaska State Troopers. The incident happened the afternoon of December 18 in Soldotna, Alaska, while the man and his dog walked the Tsalteshi

By Nic F. Anderson, CNN (CNN) — Human remains discovered in a Virginia city’s woods last year have been identified as belonging to 5-year-old boy who went missing more than 20 years ago, authorities said. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office discovered the remains in Galax, Virginia, in September 2022, and determined they had been there

By Sarah Dewberry, CNN (CNN) — One man is dead, and a woman is injured after a shooting inside an Ocala, Florida mall Saturday afternoon, according to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken. Balken said police received 911 calls about multiple shots fired inside the Paddock Mall. He added the call came in describing an “active

By Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — An Arkansas man who picked up what he thought was a piece of glass at a state park says he later learned his jelly bean-sized find was something much more valuable: It was a 4.87-carat diamond. Jerry Evans visited Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, for

By Brammhi Balarajan, CNN (CNN) — A raffle ticket to win a new 1959 Chevrolet; credit cards with no magnetic strip; family photos in black and white: All tucked away behind a bathroom wall in the Plaza Theatre, untouched for decades. Until 65 years later, when contractors discovered a hidden space behind a crumbled wall

By Paradise Afshar, CNN (CNN) — Former NFL wide receiver Mike Williams’ cause of death has been determined to be dental-related sepsis, according to an initial case summary report released by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. Williams died on September 12 in Tampa, Florida, following a construction accident, CNN previously reported. The 36-year-old sustained a work-related accident

By Chandelis Duster and Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN (CNN) — Roslyn Brock wants every generation of her family to see the musical remake of “The Color Purple.” So, she is renting out a theater in Dothan, Alabama, on Christmas Day for 165 of her relatives to watch the film together. Everyone, she said, has been asked to

By Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — Five words from famed daytime talk show host Maury Povich helped Denver Zoo officials solve the monthslong mystery of which orangutan fathered baby girl Siska: “Berani, you are the father!” When the pregnancy of Sumatran orangutan Eirina, Siska’s mother, was confirmed last spring, zoo officials weren’t sure who

By Ashley R. Williams, CNN (CNN) — As expectant mothers often realize, newborn babies don’t always arrive on schedule. That was the case for recent Ferris State University graduate Grace Szymchack, 24, who was pregnant with a baby girl scheduled to be delivered via C-section on December 18. Szymchack intended to graduate from the Michigan

By Cindy Von Quednow, CNN (CNN) — A jury in San Francisco has acquitted a man who was accused of assaulting a former city official with a metal pipe earlier this year, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and his public defender confirmed to CNN Friday. Garret Doty, 25, was found not guilty of three

By Nic F. Anderson and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN (CNN) — Newly released footage from law enforcement in Maine shows officials were aware of growing concerns over the mental health state of the man accused of killing 18 people more than a month before the attack in October that became the state’s deadliest mass shooting. Dashcam

By Cheri Mossburg, CNN (CNN) — The family of a woman who was shot and killed by a responding deputy after calling for help in a domestic violence incident is seeking $30 million in a claim filed Thursday against Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Niani Finlayson died on December 4 after being shot