Month: May 2026

By Grace King

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WXIA) — Atlanta is launching a new anti-human trafficking campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup matches coming to the city next month.

The effort is part of the global “It’s a Penalty” campaign, which uses major sporting events to raise awareness about human trafficking and exploitation. Organizers said the campaign will focus on helping people recognize warning signs, report concerns, and connect victims with support services.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said large events can increase vulnerabilities for trafficking victims.

“Trafficking is a crime that hides in plain sight,” Dickens said. “We are asking people to say something if they see something.”

The Atlanta Alliance Against Trafficking Task Force will coordinate prevention efforts before the World Cup. Officials said the task force includes law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, faith leaders, businesses, and survivor support groups.

Sarah D. Carvalho, founder and CEO of It’s a Penalty, said the organization has launched campaigns tied to major sporting events in 14 countries over the past 12 years.

Carvalho said campaign materials will appear in airports, hotels, ride-share vehicles, and on flights with airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates during June and July.

Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp said the state has made combating human trafficking a priority for years, especially after Atlanta hosted the Super Bowl in 2019.

“We will also be vigilant in our fight to protect our most vulnerable,” Kemp said. “If you see something this summer, say something. Alert law enforcement, because you never know if you might save a life.”

Kemp said Georgia has passed 11 laws aimed at helping survivors and strengthening prosecutions against traffickers and buyers. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has investigated 644 human trafficking cases, leading to 196 arrests and the recovery of 216 possible victims, she said.

Atlanta Police Department Deputy Chief Darin Schierbaum said officers are receiving additional training ahead of the World Cup.

Several hospitality and travel companies also announced expanded anti-trafficking training programs for employees and partners.

Officials encouraged residents and visitors to remain alert during the World Cup and report suspicious activity to law enforcement or trafficking hotlines.

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 Kristen Consillio

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    KANEOHE, Hawaii (KITV) — Carter Cantiberos made a pit stop on his way to school to the Kukane St. Stand — the latest of its kind popping up in recent months across the state.

“I like it. It’s nice and neat, actually. And it looks good, everything,” Cantiberos said. “It helps people out.”

The recent bake stand boom is prompting the Department of Health to investigate a dozen of them statewide over the past few months, citing nine for not being compliant with certain food standards.

Still, residents from near and far are flocking to these rustic sheds to support local.

More than 100 people show up at the roadside bake stand in Kaneohe. And that has shocked Lila Bermudes and Kamealani Carvalho. The two jumped into the business headfirst after a random meeting.

“I just had bought this house from Kamealani… and there was a missed delivery here so her information was on the package,” Bermudes said. “But before that, a lot of the neighbors were already telling me what a great baker she was and they would ask me if I bake, and I’m like, ‘No, I don’t bake. I make lattes, but no.'”

The two strangers met up and took a leap of faith.

“What was supposed to be three minutes turned into like a 30-minute conversation, right?,” Bermudes said.

“We came up with the concept and after that we were like texting constantly, like ‘I think we’re doing this, like we’re doing this, yeah?’ And we opened Feb. 12,” Carvalho added.

Through social media and word-of-mouth, the business took off.

Customers thirsting for not just morning coffee, but nostalgia.

“It’s like that old school style of trading almost, you know. I mean you have a product that you can provide and people in the community can come and pick up stuff to eat,” said customer Dustin Nakayama.

And it’s all based on trust with customers paying by Venmo or cash in a box.

“It’s a trust-based business really and that’s kind of old-school style, right?,” Nakayama said. “We don’t really have that anymore and it’s good to see it again.”

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 Sarah Horbacewicz

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — In a 5-2 decision, the state supreme court has ruled that Children’s Hospital Colorado must continue treatments for transgender youth. Children’s Hospital Colorado ended those services earlier this year. Multiple families sued, arguing that it was discriminatory because kids who identify with their assigned gender at birth (cisgender) could still receive the treatment.

One of those families includes a Colorado mother, listed as Denisha Doe in the court filing, whose daughter is transgender. The case was first heard at the Colorado Supreme Court last month, and Doe has been anxiously awaiting Monday’s decision.

“It’s been really hard,” Doe said, “You’re kind of holding your breath, like, is it going to happen today?”

Monday, that decision came from the court, ordering Children’s Hospital Colorado to continue gender affirming care for transgender children, including Doe’s daughter.

“It’s brought us tremendous relief, but it doesn’t erase the trauma that our family and families like ours have endured, and it doesn’t change the broader climate of fear that trans youth are facing

Her daughter was previously prescribed puberty blockers at Children’s, but in January, the hospital stopped the care amid federal threats to pull funding. Doe says gender affirming care is a lifeline for her daughter.

“Our daughter has really expressed that she could not tolerate living life in a body with male characteristics,” Doe said, “And frankly, she was very open and adamant that she couldn’t live life that way.”

As the Colorado Supreme Court’s preliminary injunction orders the hospital to continue care, a lower court could still make a final ruling at trial.

Attorney General Phil Weiser released the following statement following the decision, in part, “With today’s Colorado Supreme Court decision, Colorado families are finally going to get relief after months of uncertainty over whether their children would get the lifesaving care they need.”

The hospital shared with CBS Colorado on Monday, “Children’s Hospital Colorado is reviewing the court’s ruling and assessing our next steps. While we do not have updates to share at this time, we will provide guidance in the near future.”

“Knowing that this care will hopefully, in short order, be reinstated is just a tremendous relief for her and for us,” Doe said.

Plaintiff attorneys say court directions could allow care to resume at the hospital in the next few weeks.

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 Amelia Mugavero

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    Texas (KTVT) — A new memorial at Bob’s Crossing in Wise County is giving North Texans a place to remember 7-year-old Athena Strand, nearly four years after her death shook the community.

Covered in Athena’s favorite color, pink, the memorial now stands near the creek and bridge where her body was found in 2022. Family members, community volunteers, and local businesses helped bring the project to life.

Athena was abducted from her Wise County home and killed by FedEx driver Tanner Horner. Earlier this month, Horner was sentenced to death.

For years, the area known as Bob’s Crossing became associated with tragedy. Now, those closest to Athena hope the memorial changes that.

Builder driven by personal connection Wise County landscaper Zaylen Bell built the memorial after seeing a social media post from Athena’s mother asking for help. Bell said he immediately felt called to take on the project, especially as a father.

“I knew that I wouldn’t let her down, and I knew that the opportunity was one that not many people get,” Bell said. “I have a little girl myself.”

Items reflecting Athena’s personality The memorial took more than a week to complete and includes dozens of personal items meant to reflect Athena’s personality and interests. Barbies, stuffed animals, cowgirl hats, and handwritten notes now surround the original cross placed at the site after her death.

There is also a deeply personal addition: the blazer Athena’s mother wore in court during Horner’s trial. Written on the jacket are the words: “Not only was justice served today, this jacket was there to see it through.”

Visitors drawn from across region The memorial has already drawn visitors from across North Texas, including people who never personally knew Athena but say her story continues to impact them.

Karen McKee visited the site with her grandson and said Athena’s death still weighs heavily on the community.

“It just really breaks my heart,” McKee said. “I hold my grandkid a little bit closer.”

Supporters say they hope the memorial becomes more than just a reminder of tragedy. They want it to celebrate Athena’s life and keep the community connected.

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 Maggy Wolanske

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    DENVER (KMGH) — Colorado’s recent rainfall is bringing color to native gardens and filling research water tanks, but experts say it’s not enough to end the drought.

James Warren and his partner are bringing to life a vibrant native plant garden in their Colorado backyard, but growing in Colorado means adapting to the dry conditions. Warren pointed out the two rain barrels that help provide needed water for the vegetation.

“It’s been so dry and so I think the hardest part is especially with the newest stuff that we’re trying to get on the ground, just making sure that they have enough water,” Warren said.

The rain barrel system has made water management more manageable and has helped during these dry months.

“So it’s been really helpful for those few little instances of rain that we did get or precipitation that we did get, to again make sure that that kind of lasts a lot longer, because if it snows and then the next morning it all melts. It’s like great, well, there’s our precipitation for maybe the next month, but this helps us drag that on a little bit longer,” Warren said.

Backyard gardeners are not the only ones taking advantage of the recent precipitation. Over at Colorado State University SPUR, the Water Technology Acceleration Platform (Water TAP), welcomed the precipitation to help fill their water tanks. Back in April, Denver7 visited the lab to understand how the team uses rainwater collection and learned the 10,000-gallon storage tank had no water.

Sarah Millonig, director of operations for One Water Solutions Institute, shared the recent weather has helped fill both storage tanks outside.

“We have a 10,000 gallon storage tank that was completely empty the last time we got to see each other and then we have a 3,400 gallon tank behind me that is full of precipitation collected from the roof of this building and this morning when we got here, it was quite literally overflowing,” Millonig said.

She explained the water collected supports ongoing research at the facility both inside the labority and in the hydro backyard.

“Since the storm water tank was empty, we actually took the opportunity to completely clean it out,” said Millonig. “So the sampling that we’re going to be able to do now because the tank is halfway ish full, we’ll give us a really representative sample of the real world conditions here outside of campus and at the National Western Center.

While this recent rainfall may be helpful for the plants and trees, Millonig explained there needs to be a lot more to help with our states current drought conditions.

“What I would say is though, this precipitation and cooler weather is really important and very critical for some of our early emerging plants. It does not solve our current drought situation,” Millonig said.

Dealing with the lack of moisture, is a little less challenging for Warren thanks to the rain barrel, who now looks ahead to more rain in the forecast.

“Yeah, just very excited to come out after every storm and just see that that thing is full of usually completely full 55 gallons,” Warren said.

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