Month: March 2026

By Austin Pollack

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — A four-year-old Saint Bernard named Winston is helping children in Nashville find their love of reading, and their confidence, one library visit at a time.

Winston is part of the READing Paws program within the Nashville Public Library system. Therapy dogs visit the various library branches so kids can read aloud to him.

Johanna Zettersten brings Winston to the Edmondson Pike branch, and together the two create not just a fun activity, but a safe place for young readers.

“We come into the library once a month and kids get to come and read to Winston,” Zettersten said.

Learning to read can be a daunting challenge, and some kids need more time than others. Winston offers something many classroom settings can’t — a judgment-free audience.

“And his ability, even when he snores, his ability to be a good listener, puts them at ease for sure,” Zettersten said.

Zettersten said she has seen firsthand that Winston’s presence makes a real difference for young readers.

“With one young man, at one of the schools we go to, he was reading 18 or more words in that two minutes when Winston was present,” Zettersten said.

When kids feel comfortable, confidence can follow, especially when reading out loud.

“And they have an incredible gift of empathy,” Zettersten said.

“Them (children) coming in and seeing that a dog can come into the library is kind of a newer concept,” said Lex Orozco, a children’s library associate at the Edmondson Pike branch. “And that you can read to a dog, is such a fun concept too.”

The Nashville Public Library’s READing Paws program is available at various branches.

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

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Forrest Sanders

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — Sometimes a great friendship can spring from the most unexpected circumstances.

There is a lot to the story of Raymond Bruce Hill.

“Bruce, where do we begin?” I asked Hill.

“That’s a good question,” he nodded. “Where do we begin?”

Hill has lived a hard life. He was a heroin addict for 20 years. In 2019, he was staying at a Nashville hotel. Feeling totally alone, he overdosed. A hospital team saved his life.

“That’s where this journey really takes off,” Hill said.

Hill just walked more than 600 miles, making stops to advocate for suicide prevention and addiction recovery. Even in his new purpose of helping others, Hill has still had hard days.

“That house was so full of smoke, it was choking me out,” Hill said. “The heat was extraordinary.”

Hill said the cause is still undetermined in the fire that took his Waverly home. He ended up at TriStar Skyline with bad burns on his arms and feet. It was there, Hill met someone important; Dr. Tommy Tran.

“We share a lot of commonalities,” Tran said.

“We’re in different lanes, but we have the same purposes,” Hill agreed. “It’s all about others.”

Hill underwent surgery.

“Bruce had second degree burns,” Tran said. “We were able to get him healed with minimal scarring.”

What Tran found was Hill was most concerned the burns would force him to miss an important event.

“I told him, ‘I was going to jump for you. I will jump for you,'” Tran said.

Now, what does that mean? Well, as part of helping people, Hill founded Recovery Warriors: whatwasisnomore.

“A lot of people in recovery are still suffering from a lot of trauma and PTSD that they’re not healing from, right?” Hill said. “Skydiving does that. If I can help you conquer fear, then you can conquer anything.”

For one of Hill’s skydiving events, Tran had just agreed to a jump.

“Are you used to jumping out of planes?” I asked Tran.

“No!”

Still, Tran now knew there’s a lot to Hill’s story.

“Bruce was a fentanyl survivor before he met me, and then he was a burn survivor,” Tran said. “That took a lot. As a friend, I had to keep my promise.”

“As we jumped, I felt the sudden pull on my harness, and then I didn’t feel anything!” Tran continued. “I opened my eyes, and I was falling. It was such a freeing sensation. I was having such a wonderful time. I was screaming. During those two minutes, I was in absolute joy. It was all in the name of fentanyl survivors, burn survivors.”

“Who does that, for real?” Hill asked. “This is a trauma surgeon in the burn unit!”

Video of Tran’s jump was captured by Music City Skydiving.

At that very lowest moment for Hill, he felt alone. Today, Tran is one of the many who prove to Hill, people are always there to help in the journey.

“To have someone come in, give us a hand, bring us back up is really amazing,” Tran said.

“That’s why I do what I do,” Hill nodded. “It’s why you do what you do.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Aaron Cantrell

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — Every sibling relationship has its own unique bond, and sometimes that connection extends beyond humans.

For two dogs in a Middle Tennessee family, that bond helped one of them get the emergency care he needed.

Ten-month-old Zeus, a Cane Corso, and his older brother, a 4-year-old silver Labrador named Drake, are inseparable.

“Drake is Zeus’ comfort zone,” owner Erin Moore said. “Drake barks, Zeus barks. If Drake is okay with a human, Zeus is okay with a human. If Drake isn’t okay with a human, Zeus isn’t okay with a human,” Moore said.

But about three weeks ago, Zeus needed help after being hit by a delivery driver.

Dr. Hailey Coon, an emergency veterinarian at VEG ER for Pets, said the puppy was struggling to breathe.

“He had air that was building up around his lungs, and that can happen from trauma,” Coon said. “When it builds up enough, it can make it difficult for patients to breathe.”

Moore said the only way she could get Zeus into the car to head to the emergency vet was if Drake came along, too.

The family rushed to VEG ER for Pets in West Nashville, where the clinic’s open-concept model allowed Drake to stay with his injured brother during treatment.

“Once they realized we had another dog in the car, they were like, ‘Bring him in,’” Moore said. “I said, ‘Are you sure? Because he’s really protective of him.’ And they said, ‘Yes, bring him in.’”

With Zeus badly hurt, Drake rarely left his side — resting his head gently on his younger brother. The two were only separated briefly while veterinarians took X-rays.

“Those two seconds Drake was crying at the door,” Moore said. “As soon as the X-rays were done, they allowed Drake and all of us back in there.”

Now Zeus is recovering from his injuries.

“We just got his stitches taken out on his leg,” Moore said. “The gashes on his head are healing, and the road rash under his armpit is still starting to heal.”

The moment left a lasting impression on the staff at the emergency clinic.

“This is one of the cases that reminds us why we love what we do and why we love emergency medicine,” Dr. Coon said.

Moore said she’s grateful to the clinic for helping save her dog.

“They’re not my animals, they’re my kids,” she said.

Dr. Coon said if a driver hits a dog, it’s important to take the animal to an emergency veterinarian as quickly as possible.

VEG ER for Pets in West Nashville is open 24 hours a day.

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

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Will Thomas

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    OUTER BANKS, North Carolina (WTKR) — When it comes to being a fisherman, it’s about much more than getting out on the water and bringing home fresh seafood. There are regulations that come into play to prevent overfishing populations in North Carolina waters.

But over the years, fishermen have questioned the stock assessments that lead to restrictions on their catch, feeling they see plenty of the regulated fish out on the water throughout the year.

“They manage us based on the results of a stock assessment. The last thing you want is for somebody to come back and say, oops, we were wrong. They put you out of work, you couldn’t send your kid to college, you couldn’t pay your mortgage,” said Glenn Skinner, executive director of the North Carolina Fisheries Association.

Skinner is a lifetime fisherman and one of a handful to voice concerns in person about stock assessments to the Marine Fisheries Commission in late February in the Outer Banks, saying the regulations impact the everyday fisherman’s bottom line.

Matt Damiano is the stock assessment program manager at the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Damiano explained some of what goes into a stock assessment.

“Ultimately the mission is to try and build a model that represents our fishery management system. So, the fisheries that are operating, as well as the natural system that produces fish and invertebrates, and then we try to fit that model to the data that we collect directly from the fishery. These are things like landings, length compositions, so how large those fishes that are landed or crabs that are landed are, as well as from our scientific survey programs. We collect information on catch rates. Similarly, we collect length, composition, we age many of those animals, at least the fishes, where we can take the ear bones out and count the rings inside,” said Damiano.

News 3 asked Damiano about the frustration and distrust from fishermen.

“That’s a very valid concern to raise, and I definitely recognize the fishing community’s frustration,” said Damiano.

Two of the fisheries that fishermen have told News 3 they are most concerned about are blue crab and southern flounder, whose most recent stock assessments both failed peer review in the past few years. Damiano says he and his staff are working to bring new tools into the stock assessments for these fisheries, like using multiple models in the process.

“I’ve been working hard with my assessment scientists to develop some new tools for both blue crab and southern flounder,” Damiano said. “Another thing I firmly believe in is building in some contingencies within the stock assessment process, and that entails looking at multiple model configurations. So that way, if you do run into an issue where your model just can’t fit the data, you may have some alternative to fall back to where it actually works,” said Damiano.

What fishermen want to see is their voices heard in stock assessments like these in the future.

“Talk more openly about the uncertainties with the stock assessment, about any misgivings or concerns that you might have, and that’s what we’re hoping for down the road. I think that’s the only way you’re going to get stakeholder buy in on management, is to start from that level and include us in those conversations,” said Skinner.

Damiano says he’s committed to doing that.

“We want to be able to build those pathways of communication with the stock assessment program and the fishing community. We want to be able to build that trust and we want folks to be able to, at the end of the day, understand better how stock assessment works, so that we can work together toward developing the best model possible,” said Damiano.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just a job for these fishermen — it’s their way of life.

“They’re managing your livelihood with it,” said Skinner.

Damiano says though leadership at the Division of Marine Fisheries and the Marine Fisheries Commission ultimately make the policy and regulatory decisions, the impact the data that his staff presents is always on their minds.

“It is on our mind all the time that the results of these models is going to have real world effects. What we’re trying to do is be honest brokers of information about what the data are telling us about how the population is doing and what the effects of fishing on the population may be,” said Damiano.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Beverly Kidd

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    VIRGINIA BEACH (WTKR) — A Virginia Beach man says staff at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital helped restore his health. In turn, he wanted to give them something.

Virginia Beach resident Thad Rhodes has been a patient at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital four times in recent years.

“I was so impressed by the staff — the nurses, everybody,” Rhodes said. “The way they treated me made me feel comfortable during a very painful time.”

He found comfort reading books in the hospital’s tiny book nook near his room on the fourth floor.

“I was walking around at 2 a.m. and I saw this original shelf and I realized they needed better books, more books — a better library section. That’s what I can do,” he said.

After he left the hospital, he built a larger bookshelf and began collecting and buying books. The nursing staff’s reaction was enthusiastic.

“We were ecstatic that we made a difference in his life and he decided he wanted to bless us as we blessed him,” said Sentara Nurse Manager Katia Guerrier.

Thad thought we were there to interview him about the new bookshelf. Instead, we surprised him.

“But we are here for another reason. Today we would like to give you an Everyday Hero award. Congratulations — thank you very much,” I said.

“I don’t want to start crying; I wasn’t expecting this. Thank you so much,” Thad said.

Our community partner Southern Bank wanted Thad to have something, too.

“Southern Bank not only wants to give you $300, which is our standard, but they’re celebrating their 125th anniversary, so they’re throwing in another $125 for a total of $425 for you!” I explained.

I asked, “What is your hope for people who come in as patients or visitors? That this will bring them joy? What do you hope?”

“If they can have some comforts of home and, for people who want to read, a choice,” he said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Akilah Davis

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    DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) — When the sirens fade after a shooting, the silence that follows can be overwhelming. The City of Durham said it’s working to support victims and their families long after the crime scene clears.

Ontario Joyner, program manager of Durham’s Office of Survivor Care, knows how critical that support is. The office aims to meet victims and their families with compassion and a wide variety of free resources, from mental health counseling to help with food, clothing, and laundry needs.

“Some of the services we offer are directly in response to the outcries and needs within those specific communities,” Joyner said.

Recommendations for support come from police, city services, and community-based organizations, and sometimes even from survivors themselves. The program is modeled after a similar initiative in New Haven, Connecticut.

Last month, Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews presented the fourth quarter crime report for the final time before retiring. The data showed violent crime, including homicides, is down, but for families living through the violence, the trauma doesn’t disappear.

“You’re often not even processing what actually happened until weeks or months after the event,” said Leigh Mazur of the Community Safety Department. “Often, the help is gone by then. We want to be a place for people, no matter when they were impacted.”

Many residents say they didn’t even know the program existed, but they recognize the importance of the support it provides.

“I wish there were more of these everywhere,” said Bruce Pittman. “Too often, once the funeral is over, everybody forgets about the people affected. They have to sit at home with this grief and feelings of unwell.”

Michael DePasquale added, “Gun violence has major impacts on mental health, and all the resources this city can provide are a good thing.”

In Durham, survivors of gun violence now have a place to turn long after the sirens have faded.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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 Chase Houle

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — More than 40 people who had been living in a homeless encampment off Memorial Drive near Moreland Avenue say they were forced out earlier this year and left without a place to go.

Now, that lot is fenced off with no trespassing signs after they were all kicked out in February. Some say they were given no place to go, like Brandon Gardiner, who has been living in the woods off Moreland Avenue for the past few weeks.

“I wanted to get working, and I wanted to get back again, and I feel like I started collecting my tools again and started working, then boom. This happens. Then that happens. It just sets you back.”

Gardiner says the city first gave residents a 30-day notice to vacate the encampment on Howell Street in December. He says that when the deadline approached, the city extended the notice by another 30 days because of winter weather and told residents it would return with housing options for everyone.

“Social workers started showing up around five, providing donuts and not housing or anything,” said Gardiner.

Gardiner says police showed up on Feb. 21, and residents were given just 10 minutes to gather their belongings and leave.

“I lost a box of my dad’s stuff that will never be returned. I lost my dad three years ago, and I’ll never be able to have that stuff again.”

Back at the former encampment site, fresh barbed wire now wraps around the top of a fence surrounding an empty lot that some people had called home for years.

“It makes me feel real, real bad. Like, real bad, and I know it makes my family, my friends, and everybody feel bad. People were even crying about this situation.”

Quinvarious Sims lived at the encampment for nearly two years and says he was also promised housing by the city, but says it never happened.

“Where have you been having to stay at,” asked 11Alive’s Chase Houle.

“Everywhere. All over. Streets. Sidewalks. In bushes. Anywhere we can pick to stay.”

Houle also reached out to Partners for HOME, an organization leading the charge in getting homeless individuals off the streets. In a statement, Cathryn Vassell, the organization’s CEO, wrote:

“Partners for HOME coordinated pathways to shelter and housing through our CoC partners for individuals at the Howell St. encampment. Eight people agreed to housing and are currently housed or awaiting move-in. Outreach teams will continue working with individuals on housing and wraparound support to ensure individual needs are met.

Partners for HOME is committed to supporting our homeless neighbors through coordination of service providers, prioritizing outreach, housing pathways and service connections in our approach. Through this effort, we are changing the culture on our streets and in our shelters – reinforcing with every engagement that we are offering a pathway to housing and support.”

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