Westbrook mom collects, donates feminine products to Maine girls

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Jamie Azulay

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    WESTBROOK, Maine (WMTW) — Kimberly Sullivan is a nurse and a mom who started a project collecting and donating feminine products to girls at Westbrook Middle School. She wants to make sure all girls have what they need to feel confident and comfortable in their changing bodies.

She said, “That one girl could be the next president. You don’t know. She could find a cure for cancer, and if I made a difference in that, then that’s wonderful.” With the help of neighbors and friends who sent money and supplies, she packs a couple of sanitary pads, a few tampons of varying sizes, and a lip balm or a pack of facial tissues in a small zipper pouch.

She was inspired by an experience she had while volunteering in the Falcon’s Nest, a free resource room at the middle school stocked with food, clothing and hygiene products. She recalled the day a preteen girl came in crying after starting her period.

Sullivan said, “She was crying because she had leaked through her underwear and pants, which, if you’re a woman or a girl, it’s happened to you, or it will happen to you at some point. We all know.”

She helped that student find the right supplies and a change of clothes, gave a big hug, and sent her back to class. “It’s a natural thing that’s going to happen,” she said. “We all know it, and it’s healthy. She should just have supplies. It’s no big deal.”

Sullivan also hopes her efforts can lead to education and conversations about what women go through. She talked with her son about menstruation and hopes other adults can have similar conversations with the boys and men in their lives.

She said, “I’ve told him, ‘Don’t ever make fun of a girl. Don’t ever tease a girl because of it.'” To start a conversation like this, Sullivan suggests being honest and using biological terms. She hopes doing so will help to eliminate bullying and increase care and compassion.

“The world out there is kind of awful right now, but there are points where it can be happy,” Sullivan said. “It can be kind. There are people that will help you, and this, being a woman, is how you get through it — together.”

Sullivan would like to keep her project going for years to come. Donations to support her can be dropped off at Westbrook Middle School.

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.

CCBC’s dental hygiene virtual reality lab makes history, revolutionizes training

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Breana Ross

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    DUNDALK, Md. (WBAL) — Dental students are getting real experience in a new virtual reality lab in preparation to treat patients.

For first-year dental hygiene student Malique May-Holzman and her classmates, learning is hands on at the Community College of Baltimore County’s Dental Hygiene Program.

“I like helping people, and I feel like a lot of people are apprehensive about coming to the dentist, and I want to be that person where I can encourage them to come,” May-Holzman told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Before students work on actual patients, they train at CCBC’s new virtual reality lab.

“I noticed that there was a gap in the utilization of technology for dental hygiene education training,” said Brionna Watson, the director of CCBC’s Dental Hygiene Program.

Watson is the mastermind behind the VR lab who worked to turn her vision into a reality.

“In this headset, they get to immerse themselves in a virtual dental environment, where they are actually able to get as much repetition as they would like with different clinical skillsets,” Watson told WBAL-TV 11 News. “That sequence that they get to practice really allows them to have more confidence, reduce their anxiety, and just allow them to have a risk-free environment with practicing before actually entering a patient’s mouth.”

While attending the 2024 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tech Summit, Watson met Howard R. Jean, the founder and CEO of Black Meta Agency. From there, many collaborated to open the VR dental hygiene lab in December, making history.

“This is the first virtual reality software and lab in the U.S. for dental hygiene education,” Watson told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Jean helped Watson find a team to develop the technology, and the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation funded the lab. Gleechi, a company based in Sweden, developed the VR technology software. The New York University College of Dentistry helped with the learning module for local anesthesia simulation.

Students have found the innovative technology beneficial.

“I feel like it being interactive is a lot more fun than just reading the textbook, in my opinion,” May-Holzman told WBAL-TV 11 News.

“It helps build confidence because you are actually doing the manual motions of it rather than just reading it in a textbook,” said Malik Benu, a first-year dental hygiene student.

While CCBC’s VR lab is the first in the country for dental hygienists, Watson hopes it isn’t the last.

“The goal is to expand to other dental hygiene students nationally so that they can get the proper training that enhances their performance,” Watson told WBAL-TV 11 News. “It ultimately helps them with student engagement, builds their confidence, also the long-term goal of student retention, getting more students to graduate and supplying the workforce demand because there’s a shortage right now of dental hygienists.”

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.

‘Visibly upset, shaking’: Video shows truck drive around bus, nearly hit 2 Cecil County girls

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Barry Simms

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    RISING SUN, Md. (WBAL) — Sheriff’s deputies in Cecil County are searching for the driver of a Toyota pickup truck after it flew by a stopped school bus and narrowly missed two girls.

Deputies are receiving plenty of help from social media, with many people outraged over the video of the incident.

Tire marks along a grass embankment and security video WBAL-TV 11 News obtained from Duvall’s Lawn and Garden show just how close two girls, ages seven and 11, came to getting hit.

A school bus stopped on Telegraph Road in Rising Sun to pick up the children. Cecil County sheriff’s deputies said the bus had its flashing lights on, warning drivers they needed to stop.

Video shows a Toyota pickup truck pulling up to the right and going around the bus, passing between the bus door and the children who were about to board.

The mother of the 7-year-old was standing nearby, watching helplessly.

“She was visibly upset, shaking,” said Brandon Stewart, a parent of the 7-year-old.

“I pulled up the camera. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It’s crazy. That’s the only way I can say it,” said Shawn Kennedy, the 11-year-old girl’s father.

Cameras on the bus also captured images of the pickup truck.

“It’s very disturbing that somebody doesn’t have the common sense to wait five seconds so kids can get on the bus,” Stewart said.

Deputies are trying to identify the driver. The sheriff’s office issued a BOLO for the truck.

“This was a very dangerous incident. This person did this at a high speed. We don’t know why the person was doing this, why the person chose to pass the school bus in that manner,” said Capt. Michael Holmes with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. “Was the person in a hurry, committing a crime? That’s all the stuff we’re looking at.”

Kennedy talked to his daughter when she got home.

“I said, ‘Are you OK?’ She said, ‘Yes, but dad, if I took one or two more steps, that truck would have hit me,'” Kennedy said. “That’s what hit me the worst.”

The two fathers said while in school, counselors assisted the girls and allowed them to talk about the incident.

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.

‘A wonderful thing’: Salem ER doctor receives heart transplant during snowstorm

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Joyce Ogirri

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    SALEM, Ind. (WLKY) — A longtime southern Indiana emergency room doctor is recovering after receiving a life-saving heart transplant during a winter storm.

Dr. Stephen Kemker, an emergency physician at Ascension St. Vincent in Salem, spent more than 30 years caring for patients in the community. But recently, he found himself in the hospital bed.

“It’s like stepping off a cliff. The heart can no longer compensate,” Kemker said.

Doctors diagnosed Kemker with advanced heart failure linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken. Physicians told him a heart transplant was his best chance at survival.

“They asked if we were ready for a transplant,” Kemker said. “I was like, well, we don’t really have a choice.”

In December, Kemker received the call he had been waiting for: a donor heart was available. However, a snowstorm moving through the region threatened to delay the life-saving surgery.

Snowplows met the transplant team at the airport, clearing a path so the heart could safely reach Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

Dr. Kathleen Morris, Kemker’s advanced heart failure cardiologist, said the team knew time was critical.

“We knew that he needed the heart and that the time was critical. So we did whatever we could within our power to get the heart here. Fortunately, it was successful,” Morris said.

After weeks of recovery, Kemker was discharged home in January and continues to regain his strength. He admits it was difficult to transition from doctor to patient.

“I had to accept the fact that this was a little bit beyond me, so I needed their advice and their care, and they did an excellent job,” Kemker said.

Kemker and his wife, Dr. Kalen-Carty Kemker, a family medicine physician, have served the Salem community since 1993.

She says their family is deeply grateful for the organ donor who made his second chance possible.

“There’s no gratitude that you can give for that. And he’s here. Somebody did a wonderful thing for several people that night,” she added. “I hope someday we can thank them in person,” she said.

Kemker hopes sharing his story will inspire others to consider becoming organ donors. His doctors say his recovery is continuing to move in the right direction.

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.

Drive-thru pepper spray attack caught on camera in Milwaukee

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By TJ Dysart

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Surveillance video from Rocky Rococo on Howell and Layton in Milwaukee captured a customer pepper-spraying 18-year-old Vaida Fedikovich at the drive-thru window before driving off.

The customer’s face has been blurred in the footage as she has not been charged.

Fedikovich said the incident was traumatic, prompting her to quit her job the next day.

“My heart is still pounding being here at this location,” Fedikovich said. “I left on my own terms due to the circumstance that I did not feel safe.”

Fedikovich filed a police report, but said no arrest had been made that she was aware of. She explained that the attack occurred because the customer’s order had been taking too long.

“Basically, my manager told me to get ice and I forgot she was there,” Fedikovich said.

She described it as an honest mistake that did not deserve such a violent response.

“There’s multiple people there and it’s not just you in line; we have other things to do and it’s just all about waiting your turn and trying to work with us,” Fedikovich said.

A spokesperson for Rocky Rococo’s sent a statement to 12 News. “The safety of our employees and guests is extremely important to us. We are very concerned for our former team member following this incident. The matter was immediately reported to local authorities, and we are cooperating fully with their investigation.”

The Milwaukee police department said they have not made any arrests. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police.

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.

‘My first instinct was to tackle him’: Kansas City woman stops man breaking into car in River Market

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Chloe Godding, Krista Tatschl

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMBC) — When a Kansas City woman saw a man attempting to break into her car in the River Market, she took matters into her own hands.

“We were having a wonderful brunch, and then we all parted ways and so I was getting dropped off to my car,” Syreeta Gapelu said.

But that’s when she saw something shocking. Gapelu and her best friend saw a man breaking into her car in the River Market.

Her response?

“My first instinct was to tackle him,” Gapelu said.

Video of the incident shows Gapelu running at the man to stop him.

“He snatched my bookbag, shut my door, ran into the pole, then ran into the gas meter … he threw my bookbag,” she said. “I was able to snatch him up by his hoodie. I was able to snatch him up, tackle him to the ground.”

Luckily for Gapelu, she’s got some experience.

She played defensive tackle for Kansas City’s women’s football team, KC Glory.

“I feel empowered,” she said. “I feel empowered to play football with women who love the sport.”

Her quick work to stop the man may have helped recover other stolen items, too. Gapelu and her friend learned the man had stolen jewelry on him at the time, including an engagement ring. Video later showed him in handcuffs.

“Came to find out he was stealing from other people, and that hurt most to where I’m like, OK, that’s done. You’re not going to be stealing from anybody else,” she said.

Gapelu’s friends aren’t surprised she jumped into action.

“The loving side of her is so much more than the protector that she is,” Ericka Davis 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.

Behind the Scenes at TMC: How METRO Is Making One of Houston’s Busiest Transit Hubs More Accessible

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Francis Page, Jr.

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    March 6, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — When people think about METRO, they often picture buses and trains moving across Houston. But getting around the region begins well before someone boards a vehicle and continues after they step off.

From sidewalks and transit centers to elevators, crossings, and connections, METRO plays a critical role in how people move through their everyday lives. That behind-the-scenes work is on full display at one of the busiest transit hubs in the region: the Texas Medical Center Transit Center.

“As Houston continues to grow and welcome major events and visitors, it is critical that our transit system is ready,” METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said. “These improvements help ensure we are prepared to serve both our everyday riders and the millions of people who rely on the Texas Medical Center each year.”

What’s happening at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center?

METRO is investing more than $17 million to improve the TMC Transit Center; a major hub that connects riders to METRORail, bus routes, and key destinations throughout the Texas Medical[AC1] Center area.

The project includes:

Replacing four elevators and four escalators Rehabilitating the pedestrian skybridge that connects riders safely across busy corridors Preparing the facility for the future with infrastructure to support electric buses, including charging stations As improvements are completed, the skybridge will reopen with an increased police presence to support a safe and secure rider experience.

Why this work matters for riders

The Texas Medical Center Transit Center serves more than 10,000 riders every weekday and connects people to one of the largest medical complexes in the world. Each year, the area supports more than 120,000 employees, tens of thousands of students, and millions of patients and visitors.

For many riders in this area, accessibility is not optional. It is essential. Elevators, escalators, and safe pedestrian connections are critical for seniors, people with disabilities, patients traveling to medical appointments, and anyone navigating the system with mobility challenges.

“Our goal is to make every part of the rider experience safer and easier to navigate,” Interim President and CEO Tom Jasien said. “These upgrades improve how people move through the transit center, especially for seniors, patients, and riders with mobility needs.”

These improvements are about more than infrastructure. They are about dignity, safety, and reliability for the people who depend on METRO to get where they need to go.

Mobility is more than boarding a bus or stepping onto a train. It starts when people begin their trip and ends when they reach their destination safely.

The TMC Transit Center connects patients to essential care, workers to their jobs, and students to education. When these connections work smoothly, riders experience a system that feels easier, safer, and more dependable, even if they never notice the behind-the-scenes that made it possible.

How this fits into METRO’s bigger picture

These improvements support METRONow’s focus on safety, reliability, and accessibility, starting with the basics.

Investing in a state of good repair ensures METRO is maintaining the infrastructure riders already rely on, protecting taxpayer investment, and building a stronger foundation for future growth. With increased visitation across the region and major events like the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, readiness today helps ensure METRO can serve both everyday riders and future visitors safely and reliably.

What riders can expect

Some riders may experience temporary closures or detours as work continues. While disruptions may be inconvenient, they are part of long-term improvements that will deliver safer, more accessible facilities.

Once complete, riders will notice:

Easier access for seniors Better mobility for people with disabilities Safer movement for all METRO customers through the transit center

The big takeaway

METRO is about more than transportation. It is about mobility. By connecting people to jobs, healthcare, education, and opportunity, METRO helps support Houston’s growth, safety, and future as a global city.

Projects like the improvements at the Texas Medical Center Transit Center reflect METRO’s commitment to doing the behind-the-scenes [AC2] work that keeps the region moving today and into the future.

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.

Francis Page Jr
fpagejr@stylemagazine.com
7139275444

Developers share new plans to transform former Six Flags

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Jasmine Franklin

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — Neighbors in New Orleans East are feeling hopeful but hesitant after new plans were unveiled to renovate the former Six Flags. There have been plans that have fallen through before, but this time, they are hoping for a real change.

“We feel forgotten, we’re frustrated and tired. We always feel like we’re going to get something, then we’re hopeful and then disappointed again,” said Jackie Edmond.”

It’s been one broken promise after another for Jackie Edmond. She lives right next to the former Six Flags site that’s sat vacant for decades after Hurricane Katrina.

“We’ve had to pass there and go through the city, to go to Metairie, Slidell, Chalmette, to get what we deserve,” said Edmond.

On Friday, developers revealed new plans to renovate the facility.

It includes an outdoor water park, hotels, retail and entertainment space, a sports complex, and movie studios.

These renderings show the site transformed into a modern look, but it will come at a cost of more than $500 million.

“Well, it’s going to happen, it’s a transformative project, it will literally change the look of New Orleans East,” said Troy Henry.

Lead developer Troy Henry says the project will primarily be funded through private investments and some funding from the city, but they still need more:

“It is by far the largest project in over 50 years in the east, it’s very important we think it will help property values, we know economic growth,” said Henry.

Neighbors say renovating the place that brought so much joy decades ago is long overdue:

Disappointment after disappointment, but all I’m holding on to right now is hope and prayer,” said Edmond.

Project developers say the site has been demolished, and the next step is building the movie studio; that process should start in a few months.

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.

Idaho Falls pastor returns home after harrowing escape from Israel-Iran conflict zone

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — What began as a spiritual journey to the Holy Land quickly transformed into a desperate mission for survival. Alicia Ramos, an Idaho Falls pastor, is finally home after being caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict b

Click here for updates on this story

    March 9, 2026 (KIFI) — IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — What began as a spiritual journey to the Holy Land quickly transformed into a desperate mission for survival. Alicia Ramos, an Idaho Falls pastor, is finally home after being caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Ramos was part of a group of 117 women pastors from across the United States. As the only representative from Idaho, she found her pilgrimage abruptly interrupted by the sound of sirens and falling bombs.

As the conflict intensified, her group traveled by bus through danger and even walked to the border in Egypt, all to make it back to her family. Ramos says she quickly realized their pilgrimage had turned into a test of their courage.

“Is it safe? Is it wise that we keep going? Ramos recalled asking. “But there was just this clear consensus across the board that we were supposed to be there.”

Faith Amid Conflict

While explosions echoed above, the pastors didn’t scramble in panic. Instead, they turned to their faith.

“As much as it was alarming to hear it, the calm and the peace that was over everyone on our trip, there wasn’t like a scrambling, running, to the bomb shelters. There was just this calmness,” said Ramos.

With airports shuttered by Iranian retaliatory strikes, the group’s mission shifted from ministry to evacuation.

“What do we do next? Because now we’re in the middle of middle of israel with the 117 women. And how, you know, how do we keep everyone safe?” Ramos recalls. “How are we going to get out of here? The airports are shut down.”

Ramos says in the middle of chaos — inside bomb shelters while sirens echoed above — the group made a decision. Instead of panicking, they prayed. She believes those hours of worship helped them find the peace and focus needed to begin mapping out their journey to safety.

“Even though there were still alarms going off, it was just decided that the best option was for us to pray, and make our way across Israel, out of Israel, and into Egypt.”

Eventually, the pastors were evacuated from the Galilee region by bus. But even that escape was dangerous. The final leg of their escape required the women to turn off their phones for security and cross into Egypt on foot.

“Think, honestly, when we were told to turn off our phones, my biggest thought was my family back home. because I feel like, to some extent, our families back home, we’re working through a lot more difficulty than we were here.”

The Long Road to Idaho Falls

While Ramos navigated the border, her husband was 6,000 miles away in Idaho Falls, caring for their five children, all under the age of ten, while waiting for word that his wife was safe.

“You know, it’s a war. You never know how long this is going to last,” said Ramos.

Late Friday night, her family’s fears quickly dissolved. After days of uncertainty, Ramos finally stepped through the airport doors — greeted by those who had been waiting for her the entire time.

“It was a relief. Just the comfort of being home. I have five young kids at home, so they were definitely excited to see their mom.”

Ramos mentions that she is still processing everything that occurred during those chaotic days abroad. One thing she will never forget is how ordinary bomb shelters are for families in Israel. Experiencing this reality firsthand has given her a new perspective on the daily challenges people there face.

“This is their normal, you know, it almost becomes like just kind of a routine to them. You know, they would come hop johnson into the, the bomb shelters and, was still joy in their hearts because this is just this is their life.”

Ramos confirmed that all 117 women from the delegation have returned safely to the United States.

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.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay visits Oklahoma City to celebrate restaurant anniversary

CNN Newsource on March 9, 2026

By Jordan Ryan

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Gordon Ramsay visited Oklahoma City to celebrate the second anniversary of Ramsay’s Kitchen and showcase his new menu.

“We are here at Ramsay’s Kitchen with the Gordon Ramsay showing off some of your menu. If you guys haven’t been here, it is incredible, and you are in town visiting, checking things out, right?” said KOCO 5 reporter Jordan Ryan.

“So excited to be here, big game tonight, basketball, and we are celebrating our second anniversary so I thought I would show you what’s happening,” Ramsay said.

He highlighted the restaurant’s signature dish, Beef Wellington.

“You know this city is renowned for its beef so we have this beautiful fillet wrapped in luxurious puff pastry and then a little bit of microgreens to finish it off,” Ramsay said.

Ramsay praised Beth, a chef at his restaurant.

“Beth here is a powerhouse I think she is keeping me in check more so than me keeping her in check,” Ramsay said.

Ramsay also showcased another dish, saying, “Next, fish and chips, a beautiful whiting in an ale beer batter, crispy beautiful hand-cut fries, triple-cooked tartar sauce.”

Reflecting on a previous visit, Ramsay shared his experience with catfish noodling.

“I absolutely adore catfish noodling and they are bloody hard things to get a hold of,” Ramsay said. “Well, when you are sticking your head in a pipe underwater and there are several snakes around you have to get the hell out of there quickly with these giant catfish.”

Ramsay expressed his admiration for the Oklahoma City community.

“This city is about community. If there is one thing I have come to know and understand is just how compact and tight they are and so I like to think Ramsay’s Kitchen is family-oriented and you can see the lake and we are coming to spring finally entering summer there is something for everybody here,” Ramsay 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.