Month: November 2025

By WLWT Staff

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Plumbers are preparing for a busy day after Thanksgiving that usually brings a surge in calls over clogged drains in what’s become known to professionals as “Brown Friday.”

Hosting large Thanksgiving gatherings can take a toll on home plumbing systems if people aren’t careful with how they prepare and clean up, says Danny Goines, with Jolly Plumbing, Heating and Air.

The biggest culprits are turkey grease, potato peels, stuffing and gravy, along with fibrous veggies going down the kitchen sink. Even if you have a garbage disposal, plumbing experts say all those things should be thrown in the trash rather than down the drain.

“Be mindful about what you put down your drain,” Goines said. “Specifically the garbage disposal—So a lot of people think that it’s kind of the, incinerator for everything that they don’t want, but be mindful.”

Another problem-causer is wipes branded “flushable” that don’t break down like toilet paper and can wreak havoc on sewage and septic systems. Paper towels also should not be put down the drain, Goines said.

“You’re really putting a lot of stress on the system,” Goines said. “Same thing with your dishwasher. You’re running more and more loads during the holidays and it can cause problems.”

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this season, plumbers recommend using drain strainers, exercising caution, and reminding guests to be mindful of what they put down the drains. Experts say if you’re careful about what goes down the drains today, that can help avoid a call to a plumber tomorrow.

If a clog does occur, plumbers suggest trying to fix it with a plunger. However, if that doesn’t work, they recommend stopping the use of the drain and calling a professional to prevent further issues.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Ben Kaplan

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Nearly 2,000 Iowa families are missing loved ones this holiday season as 1,800 of our National Guard troops are in the middle of a yearlong deployment in the Middle East. But all these families have people looking out for them, so they don’t feel alone.

Kristin Dunwoody is a mother of three whose husband, Maj. Josh Dunwoody, is currently deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. She has spent the last six months without him.

“You know, you’re picking up pieces that your husband or significant other would typically do. Our oldest went off to college and I did that by myself. And that was one of those things that hung over me,” Kristin says.

She has a support system of nearly a dozen other Army wives and a church community that brings her family meals every Wednesday. She says support also comes from the Guard.

“I’ve gotten e-mails, I’ve gotten phone calls, I’ve gotten text messages. Just with all the resources and support that a military family needs, especially during the holidays,” Kristin tells KCCI.

Lt. Col. Ryan Sextro leads a team of 50 across the state, making up the Warrior and Family Services Branch of the Iowa National Guard.

“I think the main difficulty is the unknown. It’s that sense of worry that takes place from the families,” Sextro says.

Through frequent contact with every family of a deployed soldier, they work to help ease that sense of worry by connecting them with a lot of services — from financial and non-medical counseling to access to child and youth programs.

“What we really do is try to preemptively, you know, mitigate issues instead of having something come to us in crisis,” Sextro tells KCCI.

Kristin is thankful for all of it — the check-ins, her fellow Army wives, and the church meals.

“There are over 1,800 Iowa soldiers that are away from their families this holiday,” she says. “And it isn’t easy. There’s a hole. There’s a big gap.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WCBS

By Jennifer McLogan

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    LATTINGTOWN, New York (WCBS) — The life of a 17-year-old Locust Valley High School basketball player was saved on the court, thanks to an extraordinary team of coaches, teachers, paramedics and doctors.

There was an emotional reunion on Wednesday, a little more than a week after the student went into cardiac arrest.

Players and coaches had just gathered in the school’s gymnasium on Nov. 17 for tryouts for the upcoming season when Francesco Allocca’s heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing.

“We started tryouts and we saw Francesco on the ground,” Locust Valley basketball head coach Andrew Siegel said.

“He turned very pale. I got very scared, saw one of his arms clench. He was struggling to breathe,” teammate William Summers added.

From that moment, there was instantaneous collaboration to save Allocca’s life. Coaches described how they did just that.

“It was extremely scary. I’d say it’s surreal. You do all the training on a dummy and now you are on a real human being,” assistant coach Brian LoRusso said.

“We kept doing CPR, administered a couple of shocks from the AED, which worked great,” another coach said.

“He literally came back to life right before our eyes,” another coach said.

“It’s a miracle, but he deserves it. He’s such a great kid. He’s the best,” Siegel said.

“I rode with the student as I was trying to get ahold of his mom, in the ambulance,” added Kristen Turnow, Locust Valley’s superintendent of schools.

Coaches and paramedics got Francesco to Glen Cove Hospital within 17 minutes. He was then transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He made a stunning recovery, thanks to CPR and a defibrillator.

“I actually just purchased an AED for myself and my family, so it’s probably the best thing you can probably buy for someone for their Christmas,” said Dr. Mityanand Ramnarine, Glen Cove’s Emergency Department chair.

Francesco Allocca recognized all the people who had a hand in saving his life.

“Thank you to all the coaches, medical staff, everybody else involved from that night,” Francesco Allocca said. And without you guys, I wouldn’t be here. So, really, thank you for everything.”

“This is very emotional for us, for our family. We are very grateful for coaches and staff stepping in when Francesco was having cardiac arrest,” mother Pia Allocca said.

The holidays are taking on special significance for the Allocca family, after Francesco’s father died of cancer less than two years ago.

“It couldn’t be like a better Thanksgiving. Thanks God and the community,” Pia Allocca said.

“It’s going to be great to celebrate with the family and have everyone together,” Francesco Allocca added.

Doctors want Francesco Allocca to take his time with his recovery in the hope that he can return to the court this season.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Jennifer McLogan

Click here for updates on this story

    LATTINGTOWN, New York (WCBS) — The life of a 17-year-old Locust Valley High School basketball player was saved on the court, thanks to an extraordinary team of coaches, teachers, paramedics and doctors.

There was an emotional reunion on Wednesday, a little more than a week after the student went into cardiac arrest.

Players and coaches had just gathered in the school’s gymnasium on Nov. 17 for tryouts for the upcoming season when Francesco Allocca’s heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing.

“We started tryouts and we saw Francesco on the ground,” Locust Valley basketball head coach Andrew Siegel said.

“He turned very pale. I got very scared, saw one of his arms clench. He was struggling to breathe,” teammate William Summers added.

From that moment, there was instantaneous collaboration to save Allocca’s life. Coaches described how they did just that.

“It was extremely scary. I’d say it’s surreal. You do all the training on a dummy and now you are on a real human being,” assistant coach Brian LoRusso said.

“We kept doing CPR, administered a couple of shocks from the AED, which worked great,” another coach said.

“He literally came back to life right before our eyes,” another coach said.

“It’s a miracle, but he deserves it. He’s such a great kid. He’s the best,” Siegel said.

“I rode with the student as I was trying to get ahold of his mom, in the ambulance,” added Kristen Turnow, Locust Valley’s superintendent of schools.

Coaches and paramedics got Francesco to Glen Cove Hospital within 17 minutes. He was then transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. He made a stunning recovery, thanks to CPR and a defibrillator.

“I actually just purchased an AED for myself and my family, so it’s probably the best thing you can probably buy for someone for their Christmas,” said Dr. Mityanand Ramnarine, Glen Cove’s Emergency Department chair.

Francesco Allocca recognized all the people who had a hand in saving his life.

“Thank you to all the coaches, medical staff, everybody else involved from that night,” Francesco Allocca said. And without you guys, I wouldn’t be here. So, really, thank you for everything.”

“This is very emotional for us, for our family. We are very grateful for coaches and staff stepping in when Francesco was having cardiac arrest,” mother Pia Allocca said.

The holidays are taking on special significance for the Allocca family, after Francesco’s father died of cancer less than two years ago.

“It couldn’t be like a better Thanksgiving. Thanks God and the community,” Pia Allocca said.

“It’s going to be great to celebrate with the family and have everyone together,” Francesco Allocca added.

Doctors want Francesco Allocca to take his time with his recovery in the hope that he can return to the court this season.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kelsey Jones

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    NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (WTKR) — A modest home tucked away on Chesapeake Avenue in Newport News represents one woman’s promise to give back to her community through an organization called Valor Village, which provides support to families of incarcerated veterans.

Angela Johnson, the executive director and founder of Valor Village, turned her personal struggle into a mission to help others facing similar challenges. Her journey began when her son, an Army veteran, was charged with two counts of attempted murder in California years ago.

“His bail was set at two million dollars and he was facing 85 to life,” Johnson recalled. The experience of supporting her son through the legal process opened her eyes to the unique struggles families face when a veteran becomes involved in the criminal justice system.

Johnson and her family made repeated trips from Virginia to California to visit her son and attend court hearings, often facing unexpected obstacles that made an already difficult situation worse.

“We would fly back and forth to California to visit with him and we would get there and sometimes they will say the facility is on lockdown or the hearing has been continued,” Johnson explained. “So the financial struggle that ensued was just added to the grief and the helplessness of not being able to put hands on our son.”

During this challenging time, Johnson turned to prayer for guidance.

“I said Lord if you can help me just get through at least this part. Where do we stay? Where can we feel safe? How can we be there for him to let him know that he’s not alone,” she said.

Her son’s charges were eventually dismissed, but the experience left Johnson with a clear understanding of what other families in similar situations needed. That realization led to the creation of Valor Village at 505 Chesapeake Avenue.

The home that Johnson restored now serves as a center for families of incarcerated veterans, providing them with a safe place to stay and prepare for visits to Virginia prisons, jails and courtrooms at no cost. The organization aims to fill a critical gap in support services for this often-overlooked population.

“We want to make sure that they have that support and experience restorative justice,” Johnson said.

Valor Village also opens its doors to veterans themselves, connecting them with peer support specialists who understand their unique experiences and challenges. This dual approach addresses both the needs of incarcerated veterans and their families, recognizing that the impact of incarceration extends beyond the individual.

Johnson has ambitious plans for the organization’s future, looking forward to serving 15 families beginning next year. The expansion reflects growing recognition of the need for specialized support services for military families navigating the criminal justice system.

The initiative highlights the intersection of veteran services and criminal justice reform, addressing how military service members and their families can fall through cracks in existing support systems. Johnson’s personal experience gives her unique insight into these challenges and helps her provide meaningful assistance to others facing similar circumstances.

For more information to seek help if needed call 833-468-7838.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Cassandra Garcia

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    FORT PIERCE, Florida (WPTV) — A teenager in the Lakewood Park community is making a big impact with a small pantry outside her family’s home. What began as a simple idea during the government shutdown has grown into a bustling, free food pantry that’s drawing gratitude and support from across Fort Pierce.

17-year-old Chloe Tucker said she launched the pantry when families temporarily lost access to SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

“It’s a way for someone to get food that they can’t normally get and I believe everyone should have access to that,” Tucker said.

The shelves are stocked with nonperishable foods and hygiene items staples Tucker says many people can’t always afford.

As the pantry has grown, so has the feedback from residents who rely on it. Tucker keeps a collection of handwritten thank-you notes, each a reminder of how far her effort reaches.

“These are little notes that we’ve gotten in our recommendations notes areas. [One says], ‘Mom of 7. Such a blessing. Happy holidays,’” she said.

Our Cassandra Garcia asked Tucker how those messages make her feel.

“It’s nice, it makes me realize that just because I’m doing this and I’m helping a couple of people, it’s helping a lot more people because I’m helping their family, their kids, the people that love them,” Tucker said.

Among the visitors Wednesday morning were Richard and Jeanette Chausse, who say fixed incomes and rising prices are hitting seniors particularly hard.

“We bring stuff home and then we bring it to other people in our neighborhood because we live in a 55+ community and there’s a lot of people that can’t get out of their homes, so we bring it to them,” Jeanette Chausse said.

Tucker’s mother, Amanda, said the response has been overwhelming.

“I didn’t expect it to take off the way that it did, as fast as it did. It makes me not only proud of her, but the community,” she said.

“It’s great to see how well a community can come together to help one another just to help one another when they all see what good it could do,” Chloe added.

The pantry is located at 6803 Citrus Park Boulevard in Fort Pierce. It’s filled with items such as lentils, beans, jasmine rice and holiday stuffing, along with hygiene essentials. Tucker restocks it using overflow supplies stored inside her home, but says keeping up with demand will take the community’s help, especially during the holiday season.

“This over here is our overflow pile, we have a lot of canned goods, hygiene products. We are looking for more hygiene products, specifically soaps and shampoos,” she said.

For Tucker, the effort is all about giving back to the neighborhood she cares so much about.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.