Michelle Watson - National News Editor
Michelle Watson
National News Editor
Michelle Watson is a national news editor for CNN's national newsgathering team.
Latest
2 men charged with distributing drugs that killed transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, prosecutors say
Apr 2, 2024
Two men in New York have been charged with distributing fentanyl-laced heroin that allegedly caused the death of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili in February, prosecutors announced Monday.
Reopening the Port of Baltimore could take weeks as colossal wreckage cleanup gets underway, officials say
Mar 31, 2024
It could take weeks for the Port of Baltimore to reopen as an arduous cleanup process to clear the massive wreckage from this week’s catastrophic bridge collapse begins, leaving commuters and workers in limbo and supply chains in disarray, officials said.
Dog reunited with owner days after ‘misstep in the cargo loading process,’ airline says
Mar 29, 2024
A dog who was supposed to be on an Alaska Airlines flight Tuesday from Raleigh-Durham International Airport has been reunited with his owner.
Suspect charged with murder in connection with Indianapolis nightclub shooting that left 1 dead, 5 others injured
Mar 20, 2024
A suspect is facing murder and other charges in connection with an early Saturday Indianapolis nightclub shooting that left one person dead and five others injured.
Pennsylvania man suspected of killing 3 people is in custody, police say
Mar 17, 2024
Andre Gordon, the man accused of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, Saturday morning is in custody, according to police.
5 people, including a juvenile, killed in Virginia plane crash, officials say
Mar 11, 2024
A small plane crash near Virginia’s western border on Sunday killed all five people on board, including a juvenile, authorities said.
Philly LGBT Affairs executive director yells, ‘I work for the mayor,’ as she records her and her husband’s arrest
Mar 4, 2024
Philadelphia’s head of LGBT affairs and her husband were arrested by a state trooper Saturday, in what the mayor is calling a “very concerning,” interaction, according to a video circulating on social media, which was confirmed by police.
NY Attorney General sends cease-and-desist order to county executive over transgender sports ban
Mar 3, 2024
New York Attorney General Letitia James demanded that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman rescind a ban on transgender athletes from competing in womens’ and girls’ sports, saying the ban was a “discriminatory and transphobic executive order,” according to a press release Friday.
Jet carrying Grammy-winning artist Karol G makes emergency landing
Mar 1, 2024
A private jet carrying Grammy-winning artist Karol G made an emergency landing at a Los Angeles area airport after a report of smoke in the cockpit Thursday night,
Campbellsville University student arrested in connection with death of fellow student in Kentucky
Feb 26, 2024
A Campbellsville University student has been arrested in connection with the death of a fellow student in Kentucky, officials say.
Arizona prosecutor refuses to extradite suspect in New York killing, citing Manhattan DA’s handling of previous cases
Feb 22, 2024
A suspect in the killing of a woman at a New York City hotel – who was arrested in Arizona in connection with a different case – will not be extradited, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said Wednesday, citing the handling of other cases by Manhattan prosecutors.
Mayor says police presence increased at places of worship after WSJ opinion piece declared his city ‘America’s Jihad capital’
Feb 5, 2024
The mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Abdullah H. Hammoud, said residents can expect an increased police presence “effective immediately” at “all places of worship and major infrastructure points” after a Wall Street Journal opinion piece referred to his city as “America’s Jihad capital.”
NYC brothers face 130 counts after ‘arsenal’ of ghost guns and homemade explosives found in their apartment, prosecutors say
Jan 30, 2024
A pair of brothers in New York City has been charged with 130 counts related to the illegal possession, handling and sale of weapons after an “arsenal” of ghost guns, assault rifles and improvised explosive devices were discovered in a raid of their Queens apartment, prosecutors said.
Man allegedly motivated by Hamas attack charged with attempting to join Somalia-based terrorist organization
Dec 29, 2023
A New Jersey man allegedly motivated by the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel has been charged after expressing a desire to harm Americans around the world and planning to join a foreign terrorist group, according to a complaint unsealed Friday by authorities.
High-ranking Hezbollah member faces terrorism charges in 1994 bombing of Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, DOJ says
Dec 20, 2023
The Department of Justice has charged a high-ranking member of the terrorist organization Hezbollah for his alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community center, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday by the DOJ.
Dozens of documents naming Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and associates to be made public in 2024
Dec 20, 2023
A US Judge for the Southern District of New York has ordered the names of dozens of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims and associates to be made public in 2024, according to an order issued Monday.
About
Michelle Watson is a national news editor for CNN’s national newsgathering team. Prior to joining the desk, Michelle worked to vet and research stories for the Row, CNN’s editorial judgement body.
Since joining CNN in 2017, Michelle has played a role in a number major stories for CNN, including the network’s coverage of the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Irma after it made landfall and the tragic shooting deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She also worked with CNN’s political team fact checking the 2020 presidential election.
Michelle holds a degree from Louisiana State University in Mass Communication with a minor in history.
