Over 20,000 people fed this Thanksgiving thanks to Florida students

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Jolie Rodriguez

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    STUART, Florida (WPBF) — Over 20,000 people in Martin County will be fed this Thanksgiving thanks to Elev8hope’s Compassion in Action.

A culmination of local organizations, students, the school district and law enforcement makes the Thanksgiving basket distribution possible every year.

While it’s the 13th year, it still brings tears to CEO Rinamarie Shpiruk’s eyes.

“This is the power of youth. We give them an empty basket every year and they fill it for a classmate who’s in need,” Shpiruk said.

It only took Martin County students four weeks to help put food on the table for 20,000 people this holiday.

Each basket comes with Thanksgiving sides and a turkey put together by students for their peers.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

Shpiruk adds that the accomplishment came at an $80,000 push, but the impact is priceless.

“They don’t feel at times that they are seen. But we see them, and we give the light to the kids to solve social issues that are going on in our community right now,” Shpiruk said.

Partnering with social workers in the school district and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, they can locate families in Martin County who can use extra holiday cheer this season.

“We still have that contact with the community where they know we’re sincere. They know we want to help,” said Sgt. Joseph Angelico of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office community policing unit.

Angelico added that events like these not only help families but also help departments like theirs better serve their community.

“This gets me in the mood for the holidays right here. This sets the tone,” Angelico said. “This is an everyday for us, pretty much because we are community outreach. We work a lot with Rina and Elev8hope as far as other charitable organizations.”

More information on Elev8hope’s outreach and resources can be found on their website.

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Weather causes no significant impacts on roads, traffic in Monument area Friday

KRDO on November 21, 2025

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — While many people awoke disappointed at the lack of snow in the Pikes Peak region on Friday morning, others were relieved that they had no slick roads to deal with during rush hour.

Drivers found either damp or dry pavement along Interstate 25 between Colorado Springs and Monument, with wetter conditions on Highway 105 through Monument and Palmer Lake, and on County Line Road east of Monument Hill.

Roads are still too warm on most local streets and roads to allow for ice formation or snow accumulation.

Fog, however, was fairly heavy along County Line Road, east of I-25 and north of that road, into Douglas County.

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Student caught bringing loaded gun into Brevard County high school, police say

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Allison Petro

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    PALM BAY, Florida (WESH) — A Palm Bay student was taken into custody after attempting to bring a loaded gun onto the school campus on Friday morning, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

The weapon was detected by an OPENGATE Weapons Detection system at Palm Bay Magnet High School.

Police said the weapon was immediately confiscated and the student was placed into police custody.

The student was identified as a 17-year-old boy from Melbourne.

He was charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds and possession of a firearm by a minor under 18, according to police.

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Basketball players protest punishment over clogged toilet at Florida college

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Jaylen Baron

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — Two basketball players at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) are protesting their punishment after a clogged toilet overflowed, resulting in the loss of their scholarships, a $5,000 fine, and eviction from campus housing.

Jeremy Innocent and Aboulaye Konate were roommates on campus and a part of the FSW starting line-up.

“This is my life on the line,” Jeremy Innocent said.

Innocent expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s kind of wrong. You know, the school has problems already. You know, just before this situation happened, some kid almost burned the dorm down. He still stays there. And then, you know, over a toilet. They messed up. Toilet. They tried to kick us out.”

Around 20 people joined the protest to support the players.

A women’s volleyball player who lived in the same dorm as Aboulaye Konate and Innocent mentioned that plumbing issues are common in Light House Commons, and her teammates have previously asked Doulie for help with clogged toilets.

Mike Love from the NAACP said they were asked by the FSW coaching staff to assist the sophomores.

“I’ve been falsely accused by FSW, causing damage and flooding the campus. Impossible. The facts are clear. These allegations are not only unfounded but also unprecedentedly selective. Over 20 prior incidents of similar damage have occurred on this campus,” Love said.

FSW provided a statement, saying, “An accumulation of a variety of violations may result in severe sanctions such as suspension, expulsion, or negative notation on a transcript.”

Both Konate and Innocent are starters and will continue to face schools throughout the season.

Their coaches have advised them to block out any outside noise when stepping onto the basketball court.

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Preparing your Christmas budget to avoid a financial nightmare

KVIA on November 21, 2025

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Ahead of the Christmas shopping season, Borderland financial experts are providing advice to stay within your budget and avoid a financial nightmare.

According to the National Retail Federation, this year, consumers will spend on average $890.49 on food, decorations, holiday gifts, and other seasonal items.

The association found that $627.93 will be allocated to gifts for loved ones, and the remaining $262.56 will be used on seasonal items, such as food, decorations, and greeting cards.

Brian Mirau, the president and founder of Mirau Capital Management, told ABC-7 it’s important to go into the season with a game plan.

“It’s so, so critical that you sit down and do some planning. And you know how much you’re going to spend going into the holiday season and you stick within that budget,” he said.

Mirau said it’s important that families sit down and create a realistic budget.

“So the better that you can plan for what those expenses are going to be, just like everything else we plan for in life, you know, whether it be a vacation, whether it be for, another holiday, identify how much money you’re going to be spending, and then really try to stick within that budget and not overspend.”

Mirau said he advises his own clients to create a budget, especially on big shopping days like Christmas.

He provided some helpful budgeting tips:

Make a list of who you’ll be buying Christmas gifts for.

Set a realistic spending goal.

Identify if you’ll be traveling for the holidays and what that could possibly cost you.

Figure out if you’ll be spending on decorations or food.

Mirau also said, “Always asking yourself that question before you spend that dollar, ‘Do I really need to spend that dollar? Or is it an impulse buy?’ And if you’re not sure about it, it’s better to go home and sleep on it overnight. And then ask yourself again tomorrow. ‘Is that a really, a good, wise spending decision that we’re going to make?'”

Mirau encourages you to stay within your budget so you can begin the new year on the right foot financially.

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Pennsylvania man pulls kitchen knife on bus passengers, threatens to stab them to death, police say

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Rachael Lardani

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    YORK, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A York County man faces charges after allegedly pulling a kitchen knife on bus passengers.

According to the Springettsbury Township Police Department, the incident happened on a Rabbit Transit bus along East Market Street around 11 a.m. on Oct. 24.

Police said Angel Velez, 63, of York, pulled a silver kitchen knife on other bus passengers and threatened to kill them.

Witnesses on the bus said three passengers were having their own conversation about jobs and whether certain employers hire people based on their criminal history, according to the court documents.

During the conversation, Velez turned around and started arguing with them and questioning whether they were talking about him, witnesses told police.

Velez then pulled out the knife and pointed it at the passengers, threatening to stab them to death once they got off the bus, according to the documents.

The victims told police that they think Velez mistakenly thought that they were talking about him, officials said.

One of the victims said she grabbed a car jack that was on the side of the bus because she feared that Velez would stab her, according to police.

Investigators said Velez admitted to having the knife on the bus and pulling it on the passengers.

Velez was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

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Pennsylvania teacher banned from teaching after alleged child abuse incident

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Baylee Martin

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    EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A special needs teacher in Lancaster County has been banned from teaching after allegations of child abuse involving a nonverbal student with autism came to light, leading to an investigation by the district attorney’s office.

Heather, the mother of 5-year-old Vann, who is diagnosed with autism, shared her ongoing struggle to understand the situation.

“It is difficult. And it’s a journey, and it’s an ongoing learning experience. I learn from him every day, you know, how to be a better person and a better mom,” she said.

Vann was enrolled in the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13’s early intervention program in East Lampeter Township, which Heather initially felt was meeting his unique needs.

“Prior to him starting preschool, I was so worried,” she said. “Just when I got to the point where I’m like, I was worrying for nothing, and then just this bomb gets dropped.”

‘Wish I would have listened’

The incident surfaced this summer when Child Protective Services knocked on Heather’s door, detailing an incident on Feb. 27 where Vann’s teacher allegedly dragged him by his ankles, pinned him to the floor by his wrists, and confined him to a 4-foot-by-4-foot space for over an hour.

Heather noticed changes in Vann’s behavior, including meltdowns and refusal to get dressed for school.

“I wish I would have listened to what his behavior was telling me,” she said.

Heather learned about the incident months after it occurred.

“She is the first person, family included, the first human being I have ever trusted to care for him. And she is the first human being who hurt him,” Heather said.

Despite her trust, Heather would park across the street from the school to wait for Vann to be done.

“To know that it happened inside of that building when I was across the street eats me alive, too,” she said.

Case reopened

The teacher was immediately placed on leave, had her teaching license revoked in October, and was officially terminated. IU13 stated, “We will continue to cooperate with authorities as this matter moves through the formal channels, and we are prepared to take any additional actions necessary to ensure student well-being and care.”

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office announced on Facebook on November 10 that they reopened the case because it “was not sent to or reviewed by the Special Victims Unit as protocol requires.”

Heather is seeking accountability and wants to raise awareness for other parents of children like Vann.

“How many times did he go through this where nobody else was around? How many times was his arm grabbed tighter than it should have been? Was he screamed at? Was he pushed? I mean, the questions are endless, and the answers are not coming, and they haven’t. And that’s a struggle,” she said.

Heather and Vann The district attorney’s office has stated that additional investigation is necessary to determine if there will be criminal charges in this case.

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Pennsylvania man with amnesia seeks to rebuild life after being found unconscious in Florida

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Brian Roche

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    MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Darrell Powell, a Pennsylvania man diagnosed with amnesia after being found unconscious in a Florida restroom, is trying to piece together his life with the help of his ex-wife, Abi Knaub.

“He needs to have a life now. Even if he can’t remember his life,” Knaub said.

Timeline of events

Powell was discovered on Sept. 8 in a Wawa restroom in Orlando, Florida, with no wallet, cell phone, or identification. He has been told his name is Darrell Powell and grew up in Middletown, graduating from Middletown Area High School in 1995.

“He doesn’t know who he is. He knows who he has been told he is,” Knaub said.

Knaub, Powell’s ex-wife, last had contact with him around 2014.

After Powell was in the hospital for eight days, police used facial recognition software to find his Pennsylvania driver’s license online, connecting him with Knaub.

“And after he had been in the hospital for eight days, the police came and did, took a picture of him, and ran facial recognition software, were able to find his Pennsylvania driver’s license online. They landed on me because basically his parents have passed away and there is no one else,” Knaub said.

Powell has no children or family, and he has been diagnosed with amnesia caused by a brain aneurysm. Despite the option to walk away, Knaub is committed to helping Powell.

“I’m not taking that stance. And everyone in my life, my family members, the people that I love, all understand and support me in doing this because they know that this is who I am,” Knaub said.

Taking role as detective

Knaub has appointed herself as Powell’s detective, trying to piece together his life and determine how he ended up in Florida.

“The last I know, he was living in Camp Hill. However, his driver’s license said that he was living in Erie,” Knaub said.

Knaub learned that Powell had an apartment in Erie with rent paid through July and rented a car in Erie that was found in Florida.

An invoice shows Powell booked a cruise out of Miami from August 3-10, but it is unknown if he went on the cruise.

Tough path ahead

Powell has returned to Pennsylvania after being treated in the hospital, and Florida authorities put him on a bus where Knaub picked him up. He is now living in a shelter.

“Basically, I’d like to just be able to start over, and I mean, hopefully, you know, just move forward,” Powell said.

Despite looking at photos of his past life provided by Knaub, nothing jogged Powell’s memory.

The goal is to find out what happened to Powell, why he ended up in Florida, and what may have happened before he was found unconscious.

Powell has been told by doctors that his memory may return in the future, but the aneurysm remains in his brain, and the medical path forward is uncertain.

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Colorado students turn high school into community food bank during shutdown

CNN on November 21, 2025


KCNC

By Justin Adams

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    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — As the Dakota Ridge Eagles prepare for their Football Friday matchup against Pueblo West, students at the school are earning attention for something far beyond the field.

During the recent federal government shutdown, Dakota Ridge High School was selected as one of several Jeffco Public Schools to operate as a temporary community food bank. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, left many families across Colorado struggling with delayed paychecks and reduced access to federal nutrition programs.

When five pallets of donated food arrived from a districtwide drive at Jeffco Stadium, more than 60 students from the school’s leadership team stepped in to help. The group unloaded, sorted, and organized everything from canned goods and kid-friendly snacks to personal hygiene items.

“It makes me feel good knowing that it’s not just the football team or the baseball team. Everybody is getting involved in this school,” said Breck Inmaynes, the senior class president.

Students worked for more than an hour and a half to transfer the donations from the trucks into the school, establishing a system that allows families to pick up supplies twice a week. The food bank is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Any items not claimed at the school are donated to a nearby food pantry.

For many of the students who volunteered, the project was personal.

“Nothing but joy,” said student body president Jaxson Arnold. “Just knowing that what we’re doing is helping somebody else, it just makes you happy.”

The students say they plan to continue running the food bank even with the shutdown over, hoping to support neighbors who are still recovering from lost wages and unexpected financial strain.

“It makes a massive difference,” said student body president Caiden Dixon. “Any way we could help, we wanted to.”

Dakota Ridge High School, located in southwest Jefferson County, has a long history of community involvement. Staff members say the student-led food bank has become a point of pride for the school, and a reminder that the spirit of teamwork extends well beyond Friday nights under the lights.

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.

Colorado students turn high school into community food bank during shutdown

CNN Newsource on November 21, 2025

By Justin Adams

Click here for updates on this story

    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — As the Dakota Ridge Eagles prepare for their Football Friday matchup against Pueblo West, students at the school are earning attention for something far beyond the field.

During the recent federal government shutdown, Dakota Ridge High School was selected as one of several Jeffco Public Schools to operate as a temporary community food bank. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, left many families across Colorado struggling with delayed paychecks and reduced access to federal nutrition programs.

When five pallets of donated food arrived from a districtwide drive at Jeffco Stadium, more than 60 students from the school’s leadership team stepped in to help. The group unloaded, sorted, and organized everything from canned goods and kid-friendly snacks to personal hygiene items.

“It makes me feel good knowing that it’s not just the football team or the baseball team. Everybody is getting involved in this school,” said Breck Inmaynes, the senior class president.

Students worked for more than an hour and a half to transfer the donations from the trucks into the school, establishing a system that allows families to pick up supplies twice a week. The food bank is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Any items not claimed at the school are donated to a nearby food pantry.

For many of the students who volunteered, the project was personal.

“Nothing but joy,” said student body president Jaxson Arnold. “Just knowing that what we’re doing is helping somebody else, it just makes you happy.”

The students say they plan to continue running the food bank even with the shutdown over, hoping to support neighbors who are still recovering from lost wages and unexpected financial strain.

“It makes a massive difference,” said student body president Caiden Dixon. “Any way we could help, we wanted to.”

Dakota Ridge High School, located in southwest Jefferson County, has a long history of community involvement. Staff members say the student-led food bank has become a point of pride for the school, and a reminder that the spirit of teamwork extends well beyond Friday nights under the lights.

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.