Month: April 2026

KYW

By Siafa Lewis, Tom Gardiner

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    ABSECON, New Jersey (KYW) — Most 6-year-olds have no concept of how challenging life can be. Aurora Dessicino of Absecon, New Jersey, knows all too well. A year ago, Aurora was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease.

Being the center of attention in an unknown setting didn’t sit well with Aurora, at least not at first. But the nerves dissipated as Make-A-Wish New Jersey and The Learning Experience in Blackwood rolled out the red carpet to announce that Aurora, her mom, dad and three brothers will soon be heading to Walt Disney World.

“Today so far has been overwhelming,” Joseph Dessicino, Aurora’s father, said. “Just full of faith and hope and gratefullness.”

“It’s an exciting day for sure that Aurora’s well enough to have a wish,” mother Gigi Dessicino said.

What you saw on Wednesday — the joy, the smiles, the party — was the happy after all. But the story behind how Aurora arrived at this day is hard to comprehend.

“Aurora was born perfectly healthy,” Joseph Dessicino said. “And out of nowhere, she got this super rare disease, pulmonary hypertension that only 2,000 people have in America and probably about 500 of them being children.”

“When we got to the hospital, they told us that if it were another day, another week, she wouldn’t have made it,” Gigi Dessicino said.

Aurora’s condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and life-threatening.

“We spent two months in the cardiac ICU,” Gigi Dessicino said. “She was in complete heart failure. To say we were shocked is an understatement.”

With the help of family, friends, their community in Absecon, their church, Joseph Dessicino’s union and a few calls from civic leaders, Aurora was able to receive an experimental medication that made all the difference.

“It’s truly amazing to see how far she has come,” Gigi Dessicino said. “We don’t know what her future holds, but we have so much hope.”

Not surprisingly, all the experiences her family has had have changed them.

“We celebrate all the little things in life that we used to take for granted,” Gigi Dessicino said. “And every day is truly a blessing with her.”

Aurora and her family will enjoy six nights in Kissimmee, including a special dining experience at the Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot with Aurora’s favorite princesses.

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 Siafa Lewis, Tom Gardiner

Click here for updates on this story

    ABSECON, New Jersey (KYW) — Most 6-year-olds have no concept of how challenging life can be. Aurora Dessicino of Absecon, New Jersey, knows all too well. A year ago, Aurora was diagnosed with a rare, incurable disease.

Being the center of attention in an unknown setting didn’t sit well with Aurora, at least not at first. But the nerves dissipated as Make-A-Wish New Jersey and The Learning Experience in Blackwood rolled out the red carpet to announce that Aurora, her mom, dad and three brothers will soon be heading to Walt Disney World.

“Today so far has been overwhelming,” Joseph Dessicino, Aurora’s father, said. “Just full of faith and hope and gratefullness.”

“It’s an exciting day for sure that Aurora’s well enough to have a wish,” mother Gigi Dessicino said.

What you saw on Wednesday — the joy, the smiles, the party — was the happy after all. But the story behind how Aurora arrived at this day is hard to comprehend.

“Aurora was born perfectly healthy,” Joseph Dessicino said. “And out of nowhere, she got this super rare disease, pulmonary hypertension that only 2,000 people have in America and probably about 500 of them being children.”

“When we got to the hospital, they told us that if it were another day, another week, she wouldn’t have made it,” Gigi Dessicino said.

Aurora’s condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose and life-threatening.

“We spent two months in the cardiac ICU,” Gigi Dessicino said. “She was in complete heart failure. To say we were shocked is an understatement.”

With the help of family, friends, their community in Absecon, their church, Joseph Dessicino’s union and a few calls from civic leaders, Aurora was able to receive an experimental medication that made all the difference.

“It’s truly amazing to see how far she has come,” Gigi Dessicino said. “We don’t know what her future holds, but we have so much hope.”

Not surprisingly, all the experiences her family has had have changed them.

“We celebrate all the little things in life that we used to take for granted,” Gigi Dessicino said. “And every day is truly a blessing with her.”

Aurora and her family will enjoy six nights in Kissimmee, including a special dining experience at the Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot with Aurora’s favorite princesses.

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 Madeleine Wright

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    DELAWARE COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Crossing guards in one Delaware County community are now wearing body cameras in response to ongoing concerns about aggressive drivers.

East Lansdowne Police Chief James Cadden said the body camera program was planned in response to repeated complaints about drivers ignoring and abusing crossing guards.

“They’ve had quite a few incidents in the past with people driving past them while they’re holding up the stop sign,” Cadden said. “They’ve heard verbal abuse hurled at them, threats, things like that.”

Last month, police in Darby Borough, which is three miles away from East Lansdowne, said an aggressive driver punched a school crossing guard in the face, knocking her unconscious. The U.S. Marshals Service captured the suspected driver days later in South Carolina.

Cadden said that the case reflects the kind of risks guards can face on the job.

“I think it’s sad to say that, you know, it’s kinda come to that,” Cadden said. “But we can only live in the reality that we’re forced to live in.”

The body cameras are part of a layered safety approach. Combined with AI-assisted traffic cameras in school zones, officials said the tools help document incidents and track suspects when needed.

“It’s a game changer,” Cadden said.

The cost of the program is relatively small, according to the chief. He said it is bundled into the police department’s existing body worn camera system, making it difficult to separate out exact costs, but estimates it runs about $1,000 to $2,000 per year for all crossing guards.

The police department said body camera footage has already helped lead to charges against a driver accused of endangering a crossing guard and children.

Stacy, a crossing guard in East Lansdowne who asked that her last name not be used, said the job often puts her in close calls with traffic.

“I’m gonna say a couple weeks ago, a car almost hit me, like really hit,” she said. “Tires squeaking and everything.”

Stacy said the cameras add peace of mind.

“I appreciate it and I believe we’re the only one out here in Delco that have ’em, East Lansdowne,” she said. “I think all of ’em should have ’em, if you’re a crossing guard.”

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 Alexa Herrera, Marcia Kramer

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    NEW YORK CITY, New York (WCBS) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said if he talks to King Charles III during his visit, he would encourage the king to give back a diamond with a long, controversial history.

A jewel called the Koh-i-Noor is contained inside the Crown of Queen Elizabeth. The diamond is believed to have originated from India. It was given to Queen Victoria in 1849 as a condition of the Treaty of Lahore, which ended the first Anglo-Sikh War.

Many Indians believe the diamond still belongs to India and that the British stole it.

The jewel came up when Mamdani was asked Wednesday about King Charles’ visit.

“I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond,” he said.

What’s the significance of the Koh-i-Noor? The 105.6-carat jewel is inside a crown given to Queen Elizabeth II’s mother in 1937. It’s on display at the Tower of London.

It has had many previous royal owners, including heads of the Mughal Empire, shahs of Iran, emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas, according to the Historic Royal Palaces.

In 2016, India’s Culture Ministry said the government would make every possible effort to get the diamond back.

For many Indians, the loss of the Koh-i-Noor is symbolic of the country’s subjugation under colonial rule.

Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have also squabbled over who should have the jewel.

King doesn’t have the power to return it, royal contributor says Speaking to CBS News New York on Wednesday, Dr. Amanda Foreman, a royal contributor, said King Charles doesn’t own the Koh-i-Noor diamond. The nation owns it.

“The king has no more power to return the diamond than he has to return Buckingham Palace to the people,” Foreman said.

One political expert said it was probably not the most diplomatic thing the mayor could have said.

“Terrible idea, terrible idea,” Republican strategist O’Brien Murray said. “As the mayor of New York, he was speaking to the king through the media. Stay out of foreign policy unless it helps all New Yorkers with your current problems.”

Crown not worn during King Charles’ coronation Queen Camilla was supposed to wear the crown housing the jewel during her husband’s coronation ceremony. The stone has been featured in previous coronations.

Camilla wore a modified version of Queen Mary’s crown, featuring diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection.

But Camilla did wear the crown with the Koh-i-Noor to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

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 Peter D’Oench, Ana Maria Soler

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — The 11-year-old child and his family are speaking out after he was hit by a speeding car in Miami Gardens.

Johnny Baptiste Jr.’s loved ones say the child could have lost his life when he was struck while walking to school with his cousin.

Baptiste recounts his experience with very vivid memories of what happened.

“We were walking on the side of the road, and the car came speeding by, and then it swerved into me, and I got hit,” he said. “My cousin tried to talk to me, but it was too late”.

The 11-year-old has a white bandage around his head after being struck by a car. He was left with a fractured skull and fractured pelvis, as well as bruises all over his body.

When asked about the incident, Baptiste said, “What did you think about this? I was nervous about what was going to happen.” He added, “What else do you remember? I couldn’t see”.

Baptiste was walking to school just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, when police say a driver, trying to get around school traffic, went up on a swale, lost control, and hit a tree and the boy. Baptiste was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Baptiste and his family hope drivers will be safe and pay attention to the road When asked what he would say to other drivers, Baptiste replied, “Pay attention to the road”.

Baptiste’s mother, Shakera Rolle, stayed with him during his entire hospital stay.

“I am very grateful. I thank God every second that he is here with me,” Rolle said. “I could have lost my son. I almost lost my son”.

The boy’s grandmother, Stephanie Joseph, pleaded with drivers to be more careful.

“I just pray to God that people will be more careful, especially where there are kids, and be more vigilant, particularly in a school zone,” Joseph said. “Don’t be on the phone. Don’t be distracted, especially in a school zone”.

Baptiste is a fifth grader at Parkway Elementary School. He plans to return to school soon.

“I’m going to go back to school next week, and right now, I’m getting a little rest,” he said.

When told that a lot of people were cheering him on, Baptiste replied, “I thank people for rooting for me, and I thank you for their support”.

The family has created an online fundraising page to help with medical expenses. “And times like this, we need help to pay all these bills,” Joseph said.

Police say the driver who struck Baptiste Jr. has been charged with reckless driving and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

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 Leondra Head

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Atlanta city leaders heard from teens and youth advocates on Wednesday on ways to tackle youth violence and prevention.

Officials say data show crime is trending down, but as summer approaches, city leaders, youth advocates, and teens want a comprehensive approach to prevent youth violence.

Sixteen-year-old Sonali Thomas participated in Wednesday’s panel with the Atlanta Office of Violence Reduction. She said the issue of violence was at the top of mind.

“Just walking down the street with my younger sisters. We’re scared to go to the park because there’s so many just killings,” Thomas said.

Three weeks after a teenager was shot and killed at Piedmont Park after 404 Day celebrations, Thomas and her sisters are concerned.

“Some kids go out there to have fun and not to go out there and cause drama. But for other teens, they see somebody they don’t like. They’re going to kill them,” Thomas said.

She believes summer programs and sports will help keep Atlanta’s youth out of trouble.

“I have to say the sports. I play flag football. It’s a lot of kids that’s out there playing flag football instead of being in the streets. So I have to say, the sports may be a safe space for us to be,” Thomas said.

The organization Heavenly Culture World Peace, Restoration of Light, known as HWPL, also participated in the panel discussion. The international group is planning summer programs for kids and teens.

“We’re building up for our initiative called the Youth World Peace Summit and Soccer Camp,” Elizabeth Doyne, HWPL Georgia’s director of international law, said.

The camp is for students in grades 6 through 12 and will run from June 1 to 19.

“We are bringing together youth from all across the Atlanta metro to provide peace education, training so they understand their value and their role to be peace leaders, and also giving them soccer training and leadership skills,” Doyne said.

Marcus Walker, the director of the Office of Violence Prevention, says the city plans to bring back midnight basketball for Atlanta’s youth.

“Athletics, we know, can be a key motivator. Those programs will be back active, and we look forward to the next iteration of basketball and the other programs,” Walker said.

You can learn more about midnight basketball ahead of the season here.

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 Gabe Salazar

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Buying a home in San Diego is already a costly decision, often reaching well into the million-dollar range. Now, a new wave of AI-powered real estate platforms is promising to cut costs significantly by changing how buyers navigate the process.

Some companies are eliminating the traditional buyer’s agent altogether and passing those savings directly to the homebuyer.

For one Carlsbad buyer, that shift meant real money back in their pocket.

After touring dozens of homes, they turned to an AI-powered platform called TurboHome and say they saved about $45,000.

“I was able to use all the money that I would have spent towards a buyer’s agent and use it towards closing costs … overall ended up being about $45,000,” the buyer said.

In a typical transaction, a buyer’s agent commission on a million-dollar home can run around $25,000, often built into the overall deal. Instead of charging a percentage, platforms like TurboHome use a flat fee model, allowing buyers to keep the difference.

The technology uses artificial intelligence to analyze home values, inspection reports, and market data — while reducing reliance on traditional commission structures.

“Due to our flat fee… you’re able to take that difference between the 2.5% and our flat fee… and use it to lower your monthly payment, your cash to close, or make your offer more competitive,” a company representative explained.

In a market like San Diego, those savings can add up quickly.

“I think especially in a place like San Diego where the house prices are so high, every small percentage matters and it can lead to some significant cost savings,” the representative added.

AI-powered brokerages are part of a growing trend aimed at reducing commission costs, which can total five to six percent of a home’s price when factoring in both buyer and seller agents. That can mean tens of thousands of dollars in potential savings.

Some buyers are even using the model as leverage in negotiations.

“The traditional process is they pay both the seller and the buyer’s agent fees … I would say, I don’t need you to pay my buyer’s fee — so I’d like to cut 2.5 to 3% off the price of the house,” one buyer explained.

But the savings come with trade-offs.

Without a traditional agent, buyers are often responsible for handling negotiations, reviewing contracts, and making sure they’re not overpaying — especially in a competitive housing market.

“If you’re willing to do a little bit of work yourself, then you can save a significant amount,” one user said.

For some buyers, that trade-off is worth it. For others, having a real estate professional guiding them through the process still provides peace of mind.

TurboHome is currently available in California and Texas. While the technology is still relatively new, it’s quickly gaining traction — especially in high-cost markets like San Diego, where every dollar counts.

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 Lauren Pozen

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    LONG BEACH, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Vietnam Veteran Dennis Anderson said his former landlord was generous and allowed him to pay a discounted rent for the place he’s called home for 46 years.

“It’s a perfect location close to the hospital, close to the gym, close to the beach,” Anderson said.

Anderson said everything changed after his longtime landlord died in March. He and a handful of tenants received eviction notices, making way for the properties to be sold. They have to be out by the end of May.

“I was in shock,” Anderson said. “I thought she would leave me the house. I added onto the house and did the work. It burnt down in 1996, and I stayed here, living in the garage, just paying rent. Didn’t want to lose the location.”

Anderson said he doesn’t have the money to pack up and move a lifetime’s worth of belongings from the home. He wrote to the estate attorney for help.

“I explained what was going on, living on disability and social security,” Anderson said. “I mow a few lawns. I have a lawn route, but that’s it.”

His longtime neighbors are rallying around him, hoping someone will send him a lifeline.

“This is a person who is falling through the cracks,” neighbor Jill Unze said. “He is a legend in our community. If you have ever witnessed him on Second Street, he used to walk the parrots on his shoulders. He always has his big Newfoundland dog.”

Anderson is taking things day by day, hoping for a miracle.

“If somebody here has an ADU or a little place with a yard, let me know. I am looking,” Anderson said. “I’m getting up there. I am almost 80.”

Most of the other tenants have found new places to live, but Anderson is a different situation.

He has no immediate family in California, only a cousin in Utah.

He doesn’t know how he can leave without ending up on the streets with his animals.

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.