Month: November 2025

By Yamuna Turco

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    COLCHESTER, Vermont (WPTZ) — Researchers from the University of Vermont have just published a study outlining a new way to detect dementia, years before symptoms start.

Using a new form of blood test, researchers can detect biological markers of cognitive decline more than 10 years before a person ever shows symptoms of dementia. They used participants who have been a part of related studies for more than 20 years, giving researchers good insight into their health status for the study.

Dr. Mary Cushman, one of the lead researchers, said this is exciting for the future of health care. She explained that not only is early testing key to prevention and lowering impacts, but also that there are things a person can do to reduce their risk. These include mental and physical activity, and importantly, monitoring blood pressure.

“I am excited about these findings. We learned that if you control high blood pressure, you can reduce the risk of dementia. We also think that staying physically active, having a heart-healthy diet, and using your brain [for activities like] reading can help keep the brain healthy,” explained Cushman.

Cushman and other researchers said this study is only the beginning. They said with the rising age of the American population, they will be conducting more studies to figure out the practical applications of the research so more people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline.

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

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By Arielle Mitropoulos

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    MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (WMUR) — The mother of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s nephew is currently in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, after she was arrested for overstaying her visa by 26 years, a source familiar with the matter confirms to WMUR.

A source told News 9 that Bruna Caroline Ferreira was taken into custody in Revere, Massachusetts. She is currently being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Karoline Leavitt’s brother, Michael Leavitt, declined to speak on camera Tuesday night, citing concerns for his son’s privacy. He spoke to News 9 with his wife and two sons on their front steps.

He said his biggest concern is his son’s safety and well-being following the arrest.

According to Michael Leavitt, his son has lived with him in New Hampshire since he was born. While the boy lives with his father and stepmother, Ferreira has maintained a relationship with her son, Michael Leavitt said.

His son has not spoken to his mother since she was detained in ICE custody a few weeks ago, he confirmed.

He added that this is a difficult situation and he just wants the best for his son. Michael Leavitt said that his wife has also been a big support to his son.

According to DHS, Ferreira, who is originally from Brazil, entered the U.S. on a B2 tourist visa that required her to depart by June 6, 1999. She is currently in removal proceedings. DHS also said Ferreira had a previous arrest for battery.

However, Todd Pomerleau, Ferreira’s attorney, insists she came to the U.S. legally under DACA and is in the process of getting her green card.

“Bruna has no criminal record whatsoever. I don’t know where that is coming from. Show us the proof. There’s no charges out there. She’s not a criminal, illegal alien, we’re hearing that said about anyone who’s not a U.S. citizen,” Pomerleau said.

Pomerleau said Ferreira is a good mom, and he’s fighting to get her out of custody.

“I’m just trying to fight to get her out of jail. She should not be sitting in a jail hours away from her family and from her child’s life. She’s a great mom, and from what I heard, I think he’s been a pretty good dad,” he said.

Pomerleau agrees with Michael Leavitt that his and Ferreira’s son shouldn’t be caught in.

“His mother is locked up in Louisiana, where she should have never been in the first place,” Pomerleau said.

Karoline Leavitt, a New Hampshire native from Atkinson, was appointed White House press secretary by President Donald Trump in November 2024. A source said that Karoline Leavitt has not spoken to Ferreira in many years.

When asked about the arrest, Karoline Leavitt told News 9 that she has no comment.

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

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By Felicia Rodriguez

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    PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (WPBF) — With AI use on the rise at school and at home, how closely are you monitoring what your kids do online?

A new survey finds that one in five high school students has had a romantic relationship with AI.

It sounds bizarre, but it’s actually more common than you think.

Seventeen-year-old Ayanna Melvin said she uses artificial intelligence as a tool for entertainment.

“With character AI, you can code it to say what you want to say, so you can give it a description. This chatbot is going to be, let’s say, romantic or possessive or this or that, and it will give you responses based on the description that you typed. So you can create your own girlfriend or boyfriend,” Melvin said.

According to new research from the Center for Democracy and Technology, 42% of students surveyed say they or a friend has used AI for companionship.

“I think that the companionship part is where they have access to this AI Bot or whatever it may be, and they can tell it to do whatever it is that they want it to do. And again, have that positive feedback. And that does something to us mentally, where it gives off that positive dopamine, and it makes us feel good about ourselves. And again, you don’t have to deal with those negative interactions,” said Ezsa Allen, a mental health therapist.

Allen said the trend is alarming.

“Kids need to thrive off that social interaction. It helps to build up their self-esteem their self-confidence. But when they continue to stay in that like mode with the isolation, it increases anxiety and depression,” Allen said.

Allen said the best thing a parent can do is talk to their kids and teens about AI.

As for Melvin, she said her parents have done a good job.

making sure that she understands the difference between reality and fiction.

While she knows people who use AI for companionship, she tries to encourage friends to get out and socialize more.

“You don’t even know what is AI and what’s not anymore. And that’s something that I was thinking about. It’s like we’re not using AI anymore. AI is using us,” Melvin said.

So how can you tell if your child is using AI responsibly? Experts say there are some key indicators:

If your child is using AI instead of search engines to look up information.

Using AI as a therapist for advice, or spending more time in their room and less time socializing.

It may be time to have a talk with them.

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By Christina Watkins

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Universal Studios is considering implementing sensor-equipped seats and robotic inspection devices to enhance safety on its rides, as revealed by recent patent filings.

Universal Destination and Experiences, which operates parks worldwide, including in Beijing, Singapore, Japan, California, and Central Florida, is exploring high-tech equipment to make rides safer.

One patent involves a robot designed to move along coaster tracks to identify potential issues.

Park expert Tharin White said, “That means if they do have to go out on the track, they know exactly where and what’s the problem, without having to go and inspect every single bit of this track all the time and sometimes either waste money or close a ride down for way longer than it needs to be.”

Universal filed for this patent in April 2023 and received it on Nov. 18.

Another patent application, filed in April and published on Oct. 9, involves placing sensors on seats, from the base to the harness.

White said, “There are tons and tons of sensors in this patent publication, and that can check anything from your height to your weight to even if you’re adjusted a little bit left or a little bit right inside of that seat. And all of that works together to automatically be able to adjust the seat, not only for comfort but for safety.”

Rider safety is a priority for Universal, especially following the September death of 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, who became unresponsive while riding Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe.

White emphasized that the company filed these patents before the tragedy occurred. “All we know is that they’re getting a patent right now.

We can see it, and then it could potentially help not just Universal, but everyone down the line,” White said.

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By Forrest Sanders

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — For more than sixty years, one man’s built quite the fab tribute to his favorite band.

Richard Courtney is a realtor, author, and show host at Hippie Radio.

“I’m going to get a real job some day!” he laughed.

Let’s not forget another title; curator of his in-home Beatles museum.

“I have about 5,114 items,” he said. “I’ve really been collecting since I first heard of the Beatles in 1963.”

That happened when a friend’s sister put on a record called I Wanna Hold Your Hand.

“It changed my world!” Courtney said.

“Is that your Halloween costume from the 60s?” I asked him, looking over at a costume in a glass case.

“1964, I was in the fourth grade, and I bought this costume,” Courtney nodded. “It’s called Ben Cooper. This one is what I wore door-to-door in Columbia, Tennessee. It had a John Lennon mask, but it didn’t last long. I’ve since bought originals with each Beatles’ face on the masks.”

The things in Courtney’s museum can tell you the Beatles’ story.

“These are the promotional copies of She Loves You that were sent to the DJs in America on Swan Records,” Courtney said, holding up records. “This is the promo for when it flopped. When the Beatles hit it, Swan re-released it. It went to number one eventually.”

He then held up a brick taken from a place with a famous name.

“Strawberry Field was an orphanage behind John Lennon’s Aunt Mimi’s house,” Courtney explained. “There’s a song called Strawberry Fields Forever, but the building was Strawberry Field.”

Courtney has stories of meeting people in the Beatles orbit and some Beatles themselves.

A picture of Courtney with Sir Paul McCartney is among the first things you see walking into the museum.

“I really like Here Comes The Sun, it’s so positive,” Courtney said, reflecting on favorite Beatles songs.

Courtney’s lived through some things where the positivity of a great song was especially important.

“I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021,” he said. “Two years later, I had basal cell carcinoma, back of my septum, and they had to amputate my entire nose. It took 15 surgeries to build it back.”

Courtney remembers one time, getting back from an especially painful day of his treatments.

“I got home, and there were 300 people in my front yard who sang I Want To Hold Your Hand, All You Need Is Love, and Here Comes The Sun, and that made me feel really good,” Courtney said.

Great people and great songs, you can never undervalue in the tough times.

Today cancer-free, Courtney is always sharing stories with anyone drops in.

“I have about three times this much in storage,” he said, looking around the in-home museum. “This is the t-shirt Stella McCartney designed for the people who participated in Live Aid.”

He’s still adding to a grand collection.

“When I retire, I’m going to go find some more!” Courtney said.

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By Chloe Godding

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    LAWRENCE, Kansas (KMBC) — A virus outbreak affecting horses is also affecting the holidays in Lawrence, Kansas.

Each year in Lawrence, dozens of horses march down the street, pulling festive carriages and wagons and celebrating the season. But this year, the horses are staying home for the holidays.

Officials with the Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade announced Tuesday that the parade, scheduled for Dec. 6, is canceled this year due to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus. This highly contagious virus is spreading among horses in multiple states.

There is no risk to humans, but veterinarians and horse health experts advise against large gatherings of horses during active outbreaks.

“The health and safety of the horses and our community come first, always,” said Marty Kennedy, president of Lawrence Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade Inc., in a news release. “Canceling this year’s parade was an extremely difficult decision, but it is the responsible one. We are grateful to the participants, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators who bring this parade to life each year, and we are committed to coming back next year bigger and better than ever.”

Horse owners can look out for a few signs of the virus, including fever, nasal discharge and cough, weakness in the hind limbs, inability to rise, difficulty urinating and depression, according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Vaccinating horses, isolating new or returning horses and disinfecting all equipment are good ways to prevent the disease.

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