Month: April 2026

By Robb Coles

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — Pregnancy and giving birth can come with dangerous, life-threatening health risks that hit some communities harder than others.

To raise awareness for birth equity, The Melanated Birth Collective Nashville held a special walk Sunday at Centennial Park in honor of mothers who have died while giving birth or shortly after.

“We remember you, we speak your names, we carry your stories, we honor your lives with every step we take,” said Nakishia Fouse, a doula and member of The Melanated Birth Collective Nashville, reading a poem.

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, Black mothers have nearly triple the chance of dying while giving birth compared to non-Hispanic White mothers.

Fouse and many other members of the collective, including Alisha Caruthers, are doulas working with mothers to make sure they can be heard about their concerns throughout the pregnancy process.

“Ask all the questions and then don’t stop asking questions until you feel like you are confident in what your options are and what you’re being told,” Caruthers said.

“This is a mission of ours, that every Black mother comes out of birth alive, healthy and happy,” Fouse said.

Phyllis Lanier took part in the walk.

Her daughter, Kelsey Thompson Wallace, died giving birth in 2021 despite being in good health.

“We lost my daughter in childbirth,” Lanier said. “You’re expecting to hear the good news that they’re both doing well, that the baby is ok, and when we get the call, he said she didn’t make it.”

The walk is just one part of an entire week of outreach efforts for the collective, to help educate women to speak up during their pregnancies about how they’re feeling.

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 Amanda Roberts

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — Following a recent crash, and the deaths of 27 walkers and bikers on Nashville’s roads last year, according to Walk Bike Nashville, neighbors are demanding change to improve pedestrian safety.

Residents gathered for Neighborhood Safety Day to discuss their fears and frustrations with city leaders. Representatives from the Nashville Department of Transportation answered questions and noted problem areas across the city.

Alisha Haddock with the community organization Neighbor 2 Neighbor said the event provided a space for open, frank, and supportive conversations.

“A lot of times we think we’re not being heard and decisions are being made without the neighbors or community voice,” Haddock said.

Neighbors used the event to process the pedestrian deaths in their communities.

“We are losing community members, people we know and love. Our families are suffering because we are losing our loved ones,” Haddock said.

Natalie Raver-Goldsby, who moved to Nashville from New York City, said navigating the roads in her own neighborhood causes apprehension.

“It really feels hostile,” Raver-Goldsby said. “I know I’m on the sidewalk, but feeling a car go past you within two feet at like 50 miles an hour, 40 miles an hour, is still like really scary.”

Raver-Goldsby noted how much time she spends in her car and how it affects her well-being.

“I noticed I talked to my neighbors when I’m walking in the neighborhood. I’m less angry if I’m walking to places,” she said.

Other residents echoed the fear of walking and biking in the city.

“Oh yeah, it’s a lot of trepidation, apprehensive,” one resident said.

“They’re not trying to get hit. It’s not convenient for them to walk,” another resident said.

“It’s very enclosed. I don’t feel connected with people in the same respect,” a neighbor said.

City leaders at the event today explained that neighborhoods can apply for traffic calming methods, such as installing speed bumps. However, officials noted they must prioritize projects based on several different criteria.

This story was reported on-air by Amanda Roberts 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 Adi Guajardo

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    NEW YORK CITY (WCBS, WLNY) — Three medical students at New York City’s Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai are redefining and expanding the art of ballet through a free course for children with autism.

The class is captivating young minds and helping them move and connect.

The three students cofounded the 12-week program, raised funds and secured a studio.

It rolled out last year in partnership with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai as part of a program called Approach To Dance Autism Through Personalized Teaching, or ADAPT. The class is geared towards children ages 7-12 with autism.

“It’s a form of physical therapy,” said Sheena Ranade, associate professor of pediatric orthopedic surgery. “It enables kids to work on their mobility, which is a major issue in this patient population.”

Experts say the class goes beyond mobility; it helps build meaningful connections.

“It gives me confidence,” student Kylie Reid said.

The studio has become a safe space for the students, which can hard to come by.

“There are not many spaces that are made for children with special needs and like a formal dance training,” mom Shaneeka Reid said.

Twelve-year-old Isabella Richardson is in her second year taking the course.

“Ballet makes me so happy,” she said. “I like to learn new dance moves, like plié, especially plié.”

Mom Adalia Richardson said she saw improvements after just a few classes.

“I feel like she’s become more confident. Her coordination has improved,” she said. “She’s done amazing and made so many friends.”

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 Brendan Ponton

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    VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (WTKR) — Virginia voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to approve redrawing the state’s congressional districts.

The referendum election follows 45 days of early voting. Currently, Democrats hold a 6-5 advantage in Virginia’s congressional delegation, but the new map could give them a 10-1 advantage.

The issue drew the attention of Virginia’s 74th and 75th governors this weekend. Gov. Abigail Spanberger rallied with pro-redistricting supporters outside of Richmond.

“Right now, we the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia – we want to stand up to object what we are seeing coming out of Washington and ensure we can be a counterweight to the actions of Texas, Missouri, of North Carolina and in a temporary fashion,” Spanberger said.

“And so the reality of the moment we are in is one where Virginia has a really unique opportunity to be responsive in a temporary fashion,” Spanberger said.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin returned to Hampton Roads to tell crowds to vote no during a rally at The Gala off of Great Neck Road in Virginia beach.

“The new map is crazy and what it does is take Northern Virginia and inject it into the entire state,” Youngkin said.

Two Republican members of Congress who represent Hampton Roads also spoke on the vote no side. The districts represented by Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans could become more blue if the referendum passes.

“This isn’t about us, this isn’t about Jen or me, this is about the people of Virginia,” Wittman said.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right. That’s fair for Virginia the way it is and we don’t want to change it,” Kiggans said.

Dozens of community members gathered inside The Gala for the rally.

“The issue is important, we risk disenfranchising so many Virginians here in Hampton Roads across the state for things that are happening elsewhere in the nation. We need to take care of Virginia first,” said Bruce Johnson of Virginia Beach.

Outside the venue, a group gathered with signs urging people to vote yes. Kay Flohre held a sign for passing cars.

“We’re trying to counter some of the mess that’s already been going on. It’s a temporary measure and I think it’s a fair thing to do,” Flohre said.

Both sides say the unusual April election is crucial.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTKR 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 Brenda Teele

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    SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA (KTBS) — Support for the community is coming from every level, state, parish, city, and the local school district following a devastating incident involving eight children.

Neighbors say the children were a familiar and active in the neighborhood.

One neighbor shared that they saw the children outside playing just a day before the incident.

Liza Demming, who lives two doors away from where the violence occurred, said their children played together.

“The kids play at my house. They were at San Gabriel for Easter Sunday with my kids, and they play all the time,” Demming said. “My daughter even went to the park with them.”

Demming said she heard gunshots Sunday morning and later saw the covered body of one of the children.

“That baby, that baby laying there on the roof of their home trying to get away?” she said.

Demming lives near the corner of Linwood Avenue and Highway 79, just steps from where the tragedy unfolded.

Local and state leaders are calling for even more to be done to address domestic violence.

Shreveport City Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor emphasized the urgency of the issue.

“One in nine women are domestically abused every nine seconds in this country — every nine seconds. When does it become a priority?” Taylor said.

State Sen. Sam Jenkins said domestic violence must be part of broader justice reform conversations.

“I just really hope that a part of the package that we begin to put together when we start talking about justice, and especially criminal justice, that we begin to look at domestic violence as a part of that package,” Jenkins said.

On Monday, the Caddo Parish School District plans to have counselors available at Summer Grove Elementary and Linwood Charter School to support classmates affected by the tragedy.

Shreveport City Councilmember Grayson Boucher also spoke about the emotional toll on first responders.

“I can only imagine what these police officers and firefighters went in and saw with such a horrific, painful thing to see — if any of them had to go home to their own children. Can you imagine? I bet there are going to be several children held very, very tight tonight,” Boucher 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.