Troopers raise money, donate Christmas presents to children after parents die in crash

North East, Md.

Authorities in Maryland say troopers helped a family over Christmas after their parents died in a crash.

According to Maryland State Police, troopers Matthew Hughes and Samuel Rogers raised nearly $5,000 in two weeks to purchase Christmas presents and gift cards for the Zeimer family.

Authorities said the Zeimer children, ages 17, 13 and 6, lost their parents, Jessica and Nicholas Zeimer, in a car crash while the couple was returning home after celebrating their wedding anniversary in November 2022.

Maryland police said the couple died after being struck by another vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed on Pulaski Highway.

Days after the deadly collision, Hughes and Rogers reportedly began a project to help the children with their first Christmas without their parents.

Maryland police said the troopers began a fundraiser that allowed them to finish the children’s Christmas lists.

Authorities said Hughes and Rogers partnered with the Ohio State Patrol to have the gifts delivered to the youngest children who moved to Ohio to live with relatives. The team then gave funds to the eldest child who remained in Maryland to complete her senior year of high school.

The crash team with the Maryland State Police said three people ended up dying in the November crash that remains under investigation.

Dog found tied up outside airport after owner boards plane, rescuers say

Des Moines, Iowa

An animal shelter in Iowa said a dog was found tied up and left behind at an airport this week.

According to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, officers responded to a call about a dog being tied up outside of the Des Moines International Airport on Thursday.

Airline workers reportedly told the nonprofit animal shelter that the dog was unable to board a cross-country flight with its owner because the person didn’t have a kennel.

According to the workers, the dog’s owner left the airport with the dog but later returned alone and boarded their flight.

The animal rescue team said the 1-year-old female dog has since been named Allie after they found her at the airport.

The team said Allie is incredibly sweet and currently receiving care at the facility while the situation remains under investigation.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa said Allie is one of the thousands of pets the team has cared for this year.

‘Merry Christmas’: Woman wins $700K lottery prize, plans to donate money to church

Fremont, N.C.

A woman in North Carolina is getting a holiday bonus thanks to the lottery.

According to the North Carolina Education Lottery, Donna Denton recently hit a $700,000 jackpot on a $10 Triple 777 ticket.

Denton reportedly purchased the winning ticket at a Fremont Food Mart and checked it with her husband when they returned home.

“We had a very merry Christmas,” Denton said. “This made Christmas a little happier.”

Lottery officials said Denton arrived at lottery headquarters on Wednesday to collect her prize. After required state and federal tax withholdings, the lucky winner took home $497,073.

“We were happy anyway,” Denton said. “Now we’re happier; this is a blessing.”

Denton, a production assembler, said she plans to donate some of her winnings to her church.

Police calling man a hero for saving several people, dogs caught in blizzard conditions

Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Authorities in New York state are calling a man a hero for rescuing several people who got stuck in blizzard conditions over the holiday weekend.

According to the Cheektowaga Police Department, a man named Jay left a note behind at Pine Hill School over Christmas weekend after breaking into the school.

Authorities said Jay apologized in the note for the break-in but said he needed to borrow a snowblower to help clear a path to get people inside and out of the deadly blizzard conditions.

The police department shared images from the school’s security cameras that captured Jay’s actions that evening.

According to police, Jay wrote in his note that he had gotten stuck at 8 p.m. on Dec. 23 and slept in his truck with two strangers just trying not to die.

The man noted that seven older people also got stuck and were out of fuel that night. Police said Jay shared that he had to break into the school to save everyone and get them shelter, along with food and a bathroom.

Officers said they were initially alerted about an alarm at the school but couldn’t respond due to the dangerous weather conditions.

Police noted that once they entered the school, they found a freezer still fully stocked with food, and everything that the group used was returned to the same spot it was found.

Police said the group appeared to eat and use equipment just enough for them to survive. Additionally, two dogs were able to take shelter that evening.

Cheektowaga police said they first shared the rescue story to help identify Jay and thank him for his actions.

On Thursday, the department said the man was identified with the help of family and friends.

Authorities said Jay and the group are now like family after surviving that evening and are planning a summer get-together.

College student wins $1 million lottery prize thanks to lucky scratch-off at 7-Eleven

Virginia Beach, Va.

A college student in Virginia made a lucky lottery purchase while stopping at a convenience store earlier this month.

According to the Virginia Lottery, Perla Gomez turned a $30 scratch-off ticket at a Virginia Beach-area 7-Eleven into a $1 million prize.

Lottery officials said Gomez hit the jackpot while playing a Virginia Lottery’s Commonwealth scratcher game.

Officials said the college student was with her uncle and friend when she scratched the winning ticket.

Gomez had the choice of taking the full $1 million prize over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $640,205 before taxes. She chose the cash option, according to the lottery.

Gomez reportedly cashed the game’s final top prize. Lottery officials said they have since closed the game per their policy to end scratcher games after the last top prize has been claimed.

According to the Virginia Lottery, the chances of winning the game’s top prize were 1 in 1,060,800.