Milestone marked at Baltimore’s Key Bridge construction site with first test pile installed

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Adam Thompson

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    Adam Thompson (WJZ) — The work to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is underway, with the first test pile now installed in the Patapsco River.

The test piles will determine the load-bearing capacity and confirm the overall design’s integrity and feasibility. The piles will support a floating pier, which is built to absorb impact.

According to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), the test piles are eight feet in diameter and more than 200 feet long. Twelve of them will be driven into the riverbed, two per week for the next month and a half.

“We’re going to place some testing equipment on them that exerts a lot of force, and then that tells us a lot of key information about the geotechnical conditions below ground,” Jason Stolicny, the deputy director at MDTA, said last month. “They should be able to redirect or absorb an impact without compromising the bridge structure.”

Some of those test piles may be reused in the permanent bridge.

The Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River on March 26, 2024 after it was struck by the Dali, a 948-foot cargo ship that was trying to depart from the Port of Baltimore.

The collapse killed six construction workers and closed the port for nearly three months. The closure prompted shipping delays and a host of concerns from businesses across the region.

The crash also opened the door for billions of dollars in lawsuits. As of May, more than 20 entities notified the state of their intent to sue, the Washington Post reported. Others are planning to join the state in blaming the Dali’s owner and operator for the crash.

According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Dali lost power several times before ultimately colliding with the bridge.

In March 2025, the NTSB blamed the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) for failing to conduct a vulnerability assessment. The NTSB said the assessment would have helped identify structural risks on the bridge before the collision.

“The Key Bridge, like other bridges in America, was approved and permitted by the federal government and in compliance with those permits,” MDTA said in response to the report.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild project is budgeted to cost approximately $2 billion and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.

In December 2024, Maryland lawmakers announced that the federal government would cover the full cost of the rebuild.

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin said the funding for the Key Bridge rebuild was wrapped into last year’s federal spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, which keeps the government operating.

In August, the MDTA said it was making a few changes to the proposed design of the Key Bridge, which would hopefully limit some of the environmental impact.

MDTA is proposing moving the new bridge approximately 260 feet southeast of the current bridge site. Moving the footprint of the new construction will allow the new bridge to be built while demolition of the former bridge continues.

“We saw this as a win-win to get to the key construction elements as quickly as we can, while also minimizing the overall impacts of the project,” said Jason Stolicny, deputy director at MDTA. “By moving the bridge, the removal of the existing bridge is no longer one of the critical elements. We can build the new bridge while we demolish the old bridge.”

The remaining piers of the former bridge are wedged below the mud line. Dredging these slabs of concrete up could cause a “disruption” in the bay, which MDTA is trying to avoid.

Other changes to the roadway could impact non-tidal wetlands, as the proposed bridge slightly changes the course of I-695 close to the waterway.

Crews have started the demolition process of what’s remaining of the collapsed Key Bridge.

The demolition efforts are expected to take at least nine months with the use of heavy machinery, the state warned.

Crews have been removing slabs of concrete piece by piece, six feet at a time, on the remaining structure.

The cable stay design of the new bridge will allow the federal shipping channel to expand from 700 feet to about 1,000 feet wide. The base of the bridge will also be raised to 230 feet, which is a 45-foot increase to accommodate ship traffic.

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Reviving craftsmanship, teacher starts high school cobbling class

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Olivia Young

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    Colorado (KCNC) — A teacher in the Denver metro area is reviving a lost art. Matt Paisley believes ThunderRidge is the only high school in the country to offer a cobbling class.

This is the first semester the class has been available, and it’s been so successful in the Douglas County school that there are more interested kids than spots for next semester.

“One at a time,” ThunderRidge High School teacher Matt Paisley coached a student using a sewing machine to add stitches to a shoe.

Inside Paisley’s ThunderRidge classroom in Highlands Ranch, 22 young cobblers are hard at work.

“Alex is hand stitching this stitch down boot and sole,” Paisley said to a group of students. “He channeled it, and then he’s going to use his jerk needle. It’s a different tool. He’s going to hand stitch all the way around. It will take hours.”

This is the first semester that the Fashion One course has included leathercraft, sewing and cobbling. It’s an idea the shop teacher — who runs a small custom boot and sandal business in his free time — pitched to the school and his students.

“This culture throws everything away instead of fixing it. The kids are learning also that proper craftsmanship is important,” Paisley said.

“We don’t have an organized system to train cobblers anymore. So I thought I would do something about that,” he added. “Before you can cobble, you have to learn how to sew. So that’s why there’s all these vintage sewing machines in here. The kids start off sewing their tool kit.”

By taking apart and rebuilding old shoes, students learn sewing, leathercraft and cobbling.

“So right now I’m welting the shoe,” said ThunderRidge sophomore Lexi Lezama. “This is the welt, and I take my awl and these lines that I drew on with Sharpie line up to the holes in the upper and… I sew a saddle stitch.”

The students work on vintage shoes and machines, donated by cobblers from around the country.

“The industry has been awesome. I get boxes regularly of donated supplies,” Paisley said.

“I’m gluing the bottom sole on. I put contact cement on both sides,” said ThunderRidge junior Lloyde Benell. “Then we just hammer out the whole side.”

Students like Benell have a background in woodshop.

“I find it very mesmerizing doing all the hand stitching and all that. It’s just very, like, calming,” Benell said.

While Lexi Lezama is interested in fashion:

“There’s two fashion design classes here at ThunderRidge, and I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I’m honestly, really glad I’m into this class,” Lezama said.

Many students come after school and during study hall to continue their work. Eventually, Paisley wants to run a cobbler’s shop out of the classroom.

“Mr. Paisley makes it really enjoyable. I really like how passionate he is. I walked in, like, not sure about taking this class, but as soon as he started talking about it, I realized, like, what he’s fought for this class… he made me want to be a part of this class,” Lezama said.

“I don’t think these kids are going to become cobblers, but that’s not the point. They’re learning how to make things and fix things,” Paisley said.

But if students do want to pursue a career in cobbling, Paisley says there will be jobs for them.

“The work is there. There’s too much work. There’s not enough trained staff. It’s a bottleneck, because you can’t take a pair of $500 boots and give them to somebody who doesn’t know how to do this stuff,” Paisley said.

Paisley wants his students to learn the value of craftsmanship and careful work.

“Has it changed your perspective about the kind of shoes that you would buy?” CBS Colorado’s Olivia Young asked Benell.

“Oh, definitely. I’ll always choose leather over plastic and all that quick stuff they’re making now,” Benell said.

“The way he talks about fast fashion and all that has definitely changed my views,” Lezama said. “These are definitely handcrafted and made with such detail that it’s made to last, like, forever. And shoes from like Shein are just, like, made so fast that they’re just, like, not good quality at all.”

Teaching a life skill through a lost art.

“Whether it’s wood, metal or leather, our kids solve problems and persevere,” Paisley said.

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Colorado Springs announced 12 new pothole workers a week ago. See one of them already on the job

KRDO on October 2, 2025

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Wednesday was the first opportunity to see one of the city’s dozen new public works employees recently hired to help in the never-ending battle against pesky potholes.

KRDO 13 went to the intersection of Woodmen Road and Union Boulevard on the city’s northeast side to meet Steve, one of the new arrivals.

He was already busy working with a crew, receiving on-the-job training in pothole repair. KRDO 13 wasn’t allowed to interview him, but an official spoke on his behalf and that of other pothole workers.

“They’re on main roads in high traffic volumes,” said Clint Brown, street operations manager. This is dangerous work. “It’s not for the faint of heart. These guys are doing a great job, and I just don’t think people realize it’s more than just throwing asphalt in a hole.”

He said that in good weather, crews use hot-mix asphalt — a more extensive but longer-lasting process that includes cutting out the area around a pothole, blowing out loose debris, sealing it with a tar-like material, placing fresh asphalt into it, and rolling it flat.

That process differs from cold-mix asphalt, in which the material is placed into a pothole as a short-term fix in colder or wetter weather.

“We hope to get a few years out of it,” Brown explained, before a street or road can receive other surface treatments such as crack-sealing, chip-sealing, or repaving.

The pothole Steve worked on was beside a stretch of cracking asphalt that would eventually become a pothole from the wear and tear of traffic and freeze-thaw cycles from ice and snow.

“That’s why we’re trying to fill as many potholes now, while the weather is good,” Brown said. “When the weather is not so good, we can switch to snow removal, drainage work, or other tasks.”

What may disappoint drivers is that the new hires won’t mean faster pothole-filling.

“Really, our goal is five business days,” said Richard Mulledy, the city’s public works director. “We almost always meet that goal. The number of these folks isn’t necessarily going to make it any quicker. We’re already doing our rapid basis, but it gives us the ability to do more as people identify more. And we’re asking people to identify more.”

When Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced the new employees at his “State of the City” address a week ago, he also revealed that the city has updated its GoCOS smartphone app to make it easier for citizens to report pothole locations, fallen trees, and other issues.

The app can alert crews to issues they may be unaware of.

Some citizens were hoping that a pothole near the entrance to Fire Station 18 qualified as one such issue; they said that the pothole existed all summer and wasn’t repaired.

“I think the fire guys just put an orange cone in the middle of it, so that they could avoid it,” a viewer texted to The Road Warrior.

A contractor at the scene on Thursday explained that the pothole is on a private road and was caused by a leaking water main.

“We made (temporary) repairs and will pave over the excavated area with asphalt, later today,” he said. “We’ll finish the job after we determine who’s responsible for paying for it.”

Mulledy also addressed the question of how the city can hire new employees while it prepares to make significant budget cuts for next year.

“We looked at other functions within public works and decided to slow down some other operation,” he said. “Maybe we’re not going to do as many large capital projects next year, and we’re going to shift those resources over to the other side of the house and the maintenance to really focus on that.”

Ten of the 12 new hires are currently receiving training, Mulledy said.

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Denver area companies indicted for allegedly defrauding U.S. government to avoid tariffs

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Christa Swanson

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — A federal grand jury has indicted two Denver-area companies and several of their top executives for allegedly claiming foreign made forklifts sold to the U.S. government were made in America to avoid paying tariffs.

A release from the Department of Justice on Tuesday said Endless Sales Inc. and Octane Forlifts Inc., as well as executives Brian Firkins and Jeffrey Blasdel and former executive J.R. Antczak, allegedly conspired to import forklifts from China and claim they were manufactured in the United States, then sell them to FEMA and the Department of Defense.

They were also indicted for allegedly conspiring with a Chinese manufacturer to create fake commercial invoices undervaluing the imported forklifts. The Department of Justice said the scam violated the Buy America Act and defrauded the government of over $1 million in tariffs, duties and fees.

“Defrauding the United States to profit from goods made in adversarial nations like China undermines our economic and national security,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting American taxpayer dollars, defending our national security against those who would undermine it, and holding accountable anyone who pursues illegal profits over our country.”

Army and Air Force representatives both condemned the scam, stating that the companies not only violated the law but disregarded national security.

Both companies and the three executives involved in the case have been charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud. The three executives have also been charged with separate wire fraud charges. Each individual count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each company could face up to a $500,000 fine.

Firkins, Blasdel, Antczak, and both companies were also charged with using false or fraudulent statements to enter goods into the United States. Each executive could serve up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Endless Sales and Octane Forklifts could pay a fine of up to $500,000, twice the gain derived from the offense, or twice the loss caused by the offense.

Blasdel has also been charged with making false statements to the government and could serve up to five years in prison and pay up to a $250,000 fine if convicted.

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Man trying to lure teen girl into bedroom throws dog from balcony

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Frances Lin

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (WFTS) — A St. Petersburg man is facing multiple felony charges after deputies said he injured a dog while attempting to lure a teenage girl into a bedroom.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), deputies responded to a home in unincorporated St. Petersburg on Sept. 29 for a report of animal abuse and lewd conduct.

Investigators said 44-year-old Nigel Myers followed a 15-year-old girl into a bedroom earlier in the day. After she left, Myers continued pursuing her into the living room.

A three-year-old pit bull named Sparta approached Myers in a protective manner, prompting him to pick up the dog and throw it against a dog cage. Deputies said Myers then picked up Sparta by his hind legs and threw him off a second-floor balcony.

Sparta was taken to a nearby animal hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive.

Myers was arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, domestic battery, child abuse, and lewd and lascivious conduct. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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Effects of the government shutdown in Missouri

KMIZ on October 2, 2025

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Several organizations in Missouri have taken steps in preparation as the government shutdown enters day two.

Preparations have been made for some government assistance programs and education departments in Missouri. In a newsletter that was released before the government shutdown, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said it has taken steps to ensure operations can continue.

The University of Missouri’s research programs are also affected by the shutdown, as federal agencies’ proposal reviews, award processing and basic communication are on hold. However, the university’s research can continue.

A government shutdown means many government employees who are deemed essential workers aren’t getting paid for their time. For example, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) wrote in a press release that his staff will be in the office working.

EBT cards were loaded with funds on Wednesday, but if the shutdown continues, it could delay the funds for November. Food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Emergency Food Assistance Program have enough funding until November.

National Guard troops will have to work without pay during the shutdown. This comes as Governor Mike Kehoe authorized the Missouri National Guard to help Immigration, Customs and Enforcement facilities in the state Tuesday.

The United States Postal Service will not be affected because it is independent and not funded by tax dollars.

Mark Twain National Forrest will remain closed during the shutdown due to a lapse in funding, per the national park’s voicemail.

According to ABC News, the FDA’s Animal Drugs and Food Program the shutdown ends pre-market safety reviews of animal food ingredients for livestock. This means that their will not be a reviews to ensure that meat, milk, and eggs of livestock are safe for people to eat.

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‘He’s one of many kids suffering in silence’: Stylist helps student confidence in the classroom

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Kara Burnett

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — What began as one hair appointment for an 8-year-old boy has grown into a mission to restore confidence in children across Baltimore.

Tina Moore, stylist at Capelli Hair Services, got a call about a young boy who was homeless and hadn’t had a haircut in more than six months. By the time he made it to her chair, he had already missed two weeks of school.

“He was crying a lot because he said, ‘I’m going to be embarrassed in school. Please don’t cut my hair,’” Moore recalled. “His hair was so matted I didn’t know if I could save it.”

For two hours, Moore gently detangled the boy’s hair while the men in the shop poured encouragement into him. Her mother, a social worker, even joined the appointment to speak with the family. By the end, the boy’s tears turned into relief.

“He gave me a hug and said, ‘Now I’m ready to go to school,’” Moore said.

“Sometimes we think kids are young and don’t understand what self-esteem and confidence is, oh they do,” Moore said.

She reached out to Mount Royal Elementary and Middle School, offering free hair tutorials and support for families in need. When she was asked to serve more than 30 children in a single visit, Moore knew she needed help.

Local beauty supply stores stepped in with donated products, while Target and Costco provided gift cards and food. Moore says the generosity reminded her of her own childhood.

“My house was always filled with a bunch of children, my mom feeding the whole neighborhood. I just think we got away from that as time has went on and no one’s caring about one another,” Moore said.

Now, Moore is working to launch Crownivity Mobile Salon a project that would bring free haircuts, hygiene kits, and confidence-building programs directly to schools across Baltimore City and beyond. The goal is to raise $250,000 to get the mobile salon rolling.

“So they can focus on what their skills are, what their strengths are, what their talents are and not worry about if they’re going to get picked on before or after school or get into a fight because they don’t look like everyone else,” Moore said.

Moore is also partnering with her alma mater, Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School, to help provide some of these services.

“We know that there is a need and that children are suffering in silence and parents are suffering too because they can’t get their kids back to school,” Moore said.

The Crown Project is hosting its first free public event at Mount Royal Elementary and Middle School on October 16, offering free hair services for students.

For more information, or to donate, contact crown@crownitivity.org

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‘Disgusting and false’: Meta flags student’s Instagram for child exploitation

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Mallory Sofastaii

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A local college student is battling to restore her Instagram account after Meta accused her of violating policies on child sexual exploitation, abuse, and nudity — claims she calls false, hurtful, and baseless.

Mackenzie Blake, who wants to be a teacher, discovered last month that she couldn’t log into her Instagram account. Instead, she saw a message saying her account was suspended for a rule banning Instagram users from interacting or attempting to interact with children in a sexual manner.

“I thought it was a really gross accusation. I also work at a preschool occasionally, so I think that was disgusting that they would accuse me of that,” Blake said.

Prior to the account suspension, Blake said she posted typical photos of vacation and with her family and friends.

“I went to New York City. I posted pictures of that with my mom, my brother. That’s pretty much it,” Blake said.

Blake filed an appeal, which was denied immediately. She then paid for Meta verification to speak with a human customer service representative.

“They said they sent my review to a specialized team which came back within a day as still violating guidelines. I called another Meta agent and they said that my account was probably hacked since my password won’t work. I have seen nothing that suggests that,” Blake said.

Screenshots from her support chats with Meta show agents refused to explain what triggered the flag.

“They said they couldn’t tell me due to privacy and security reasons, which I think is ridiculous because it’s my account,” Blake said.

Blake’s case isn’t isolated. Our Scripps sister station, WRTV, in Indianapolis spoke with Amy Ladaw-Ortiz, a teacher, mother, and pastor’s wife who faced similar accusations.

“And when I saw this, it was like child sexual exploitation. I was like, what! I’m like, what happened? I was just in shock,” Ladaw-Ortiz said.

Similar reports have emerged worldwide from the U.S. to Australia, England, and Canada. More than 44,000 people have signed a petition calling on Meta to restore wrongfully disabled accounts, citing automated decisions, unhelpful support, and having to pay to speak with a human.

“It wasn’t helpful at all, and I think that as a company you should be able to have support without having to pay for it,” Blake said.

WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii reached out to Meta and has not yet received a response. A company spokesperson told WRTV that “We take action on accounts that violate our policies, and people can appeal if they think we’ve made a mistake.”

Meta added that no system is perfect but they haven’t seen evidence of a significant increase in incorrect enforcement of their rules.

In July, Meta announced new safety features to better protect young users. Many support that goal, however for those wrongfully accused, they want their access back.

“It’s really frustrating. I have my work group chat on there, so I’m missing out on that. I have notifications about my college on there, missing out on that, clubs missing out on that,” Blake said. “It’s just stressful, concerning, and I don’t know why it’s happening.”

Some users, including Ladaw-Ortiz in Indiana, have since had their accounts restored. If this happens to you, you can file an appeal on the platform, file a complaint with your state attorney general, the Federal Trade Commission, and be persistent. You can also pay for Meta verification for enhanced customer support, which costs about $15 per month.

As of January 1, 2025, the Maryland Attorney General has received 179 Instagram complaints and 101 Facebook complaints.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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‘There is miracles and hope’: Family reunited with furry family member 4 months after tornado

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Kayleigh Randle

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    LONDON, Kentucky (WLEX) — A Laurel County family and their dog were reunited after she’d been missing for four months during the EF-4 tornado that ripped through London back in May. In September, a Facebook post brought them back together.

Sadie Lou is a 7-year-old Rottweiler-Doberman mix. She was welcomed with love into the Carnes family when she was just a puppy.

“She’s been wonderful. She’s always stuck by my side like my shadow. She loves to be around mama,” said Tina Carnes, who is Sadie’s owner.

Carnes says Sadie has always been skittish during storms.

Back in May, Carnes was out of town while her husband and kids were home when an EF-4 tornado barreled through London. Her husband was able to pull one of their dogs into a closet with him, but was unable to grab Sadie.

“He couldn’t chase after her because the windows started breaking, so he ran into the closet, and as soon as he got into the closet. The wind shut the door and trapped him in,” recalls Carnes. After they were able to safely walk outside, most of their home was gone. “They was looking and there was no sight of Sadie. So she was sucked out of the house.”

Carnes says she lost her home and Sadie in one night.

“We was posting for about a month online. Like on Facebook and stuff. Everybody was like Tina, there’s no way she’s lived through this. I mean, there’s not been a sight. She’s probably just out laying somewhere and someone’s just not recovered her just yet,” said Carnes.

After four months, recovery became a rescue. Carnes says she receieved a Facebook notification at 4:30 a.m. “There was a lady who posted and said “is this your dog?” … I was like ‘oh my God! That’s Sadie! That’s her!”

Sadie was seen walking around the Burkmann Feeds building, a mile away from their home. With help from an organization for animal advocacy, the family was reunited once again.

“I mean God is good. I mean it just shows that there is miracles and hope. Don’t ever let up hope,” Carnes praises.

Carnes says her cat and husky are still missing after the two were rescued from the rubble, but then ran away.

If you’d like to help out the Carnes family during this time, you can visit their gofundme link.

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Shopping center using cat sounds to deter homeless encampments

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Nicole Comstock

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    SAN BERNARDINO, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A San Bernardino strip mall has resorted to playing the sound of screaming cats to deter homeless encampments.

Some residents believe it’s a creative concept, while others describe the idea at Sterling Plaza Shopping Center as borderline demonic.

“They’re sicker than the ones out here. I’ll tell you that much,” resident Ryan Balterra said. “It’s like some Halloween, Michael Myers type of stuff.”

Resident Alexa Diana said the shopping center initially played classical music before switching to the cat noises.

“At first it was Mozart, and then it just changed to cats,” she said. “The cats get a little scary at night.”

CBS News Los Angeles attempted to contact the property management company for the Sterling Plaza Shopping Center, but has not received a response.

The City of San Bernardino said the property’s plan does not violate any ordinances. Some businesses believe the cat noises are actually helping.

“It’s helping us get the homeless to leave the area,” employee Cristina Ruiz said.

Ruiz said the speakers blast the sounds late at night through the early morning, preventing homeless residents from sleeping in front of the storefronts.

“We had the homeless blocking the door,” Ruiz said. “The manager had to call the police to have them removed so he could get in. Sometimes, he’d have to go through the back.”

San Bernardino County said 44% of its homeless population lives on the street for more than a year. However, homelessness has decreased by 10%.

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