America Today Staff 
Maurice Berthal Spencer, 39, of Chicago Heights, Illinois, is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after police say he drove while intoxicated and ran over his wife during an argument in Schererville. According to a probable cause affidavit, Schererville Police responded around 6:58 p.m. on January 13, 2026, to the 800 block of West Lincoln … Read more
A West Virginia man is facing felony charges after deputies say he secretly recorded children changing clothes and used artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit videos. Caleb Daniel Bourgeois, 36, of Cottageville, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a social media post from the Jackson County Sheriff’s … Read more
The Portsmouth Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a woman who has been reported missing. According to a post from the department, 39-year-old Tosha Marie Elmore was last seen Sunday in the 1700 block of 6th Street in Portsmouth. Police described Elmore as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing approximately 100 … Read more
West Virginia State Police and federal immigration officers detained eight men following a traffic stop and a subsequent investigation at a residence in Hurricane, according to State Police. In a news release, State Police said troopers and ICE officers conducted a traffic stop involving a red 2024 Ford F-250 around 12:30 p.m. Friday near Sleepy … Read more
The U.S. Marshals Service is warning the public about an ongoing scam in which individuals pose as U.S. marshals or other law enforcement officials to fraudulently obtain money. According to a news release, scammers are contacting victims by phone call or text message and falsely claiming the individual is facing arrest or other legal action. … Read more
A classroom teacher in Jackson County, West Virginia, has been terminated following what school officials described as a recent arrest and serious allegations. Jail records show that 38-year-old Emily Joy Wise has been charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16. Jackson County Schools confirmed Wise’s termination and released a statement … Read more
A portion of Interstate 79 South reopened Thursday afternoon after multiple crashes shut down traffic in Kanawha County for several hours, emergency dispatchers said. According to a Metro 911 alert, problems were reported shortly after 1 p.m. near mile marker 7.5 in Elkview. Emergency personnel confirmed the roadway reopened around 4 p.m. Dispatchers said several … Read more
West Virginia is placing foster children not only in hotels when no other beds are available, but also in short-term rental properties such as Airbnbs, according to state officials and recent legislative testimony. The practice highlights a child welfare system strained by bed shortages, growing mental health needs, and an overwhelmed court system. The issue … Read more
Workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) who received layoff notices will be reinstated, officials announced Wednesday. “I’m just gonna have to tell you, I had tears running down my face,” said retired NIOSH employee Anita Wolfe. Wolfe, who retired from the NIOSH facility in Morgantown, said she was overwhelmed with … Read more
A convicted sex offender is back in custody after Polk County deputies say he violated probation by visiting an elementary school and having contact with a minor. Orlando Lebron Cruz, 36, was arrested Tuesday evening, January 13, at a home on Perch Place in Lakeland. Deputies took him into custody without incident around 7:24 p.m. … Read more