Month: May 2026

By Stef Manchen

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    TULSA, Oklahoma (KJRH) — Asa VanSickle said her mother was attacked by an ex-boyfriend with a hammer on Mother’s Day.

Tulsa police arrived at the scene that evening and arrested suspect Joe Lester.

VanSickle said this isn’t the first time that the relationship had been volatile.

“She’s just kinda had an on and off relationship with this guy, and he’s just not really been great to her from the start,” she said. “It’s hard to think of your own parent having to go through that.”

The attack left Victoria Webb with both cheekbones and her orbital bone broken, as well as many broken teeth, her daughter said. So far, she’s had one major reconstructive surgery on her face.

To alleviate the mounting expenses, VanSickle and her brothers started a GoFundMe.

“We don’t know what all she’s going to need next,” she said. “Her whole face is just swollen and bruised, and I don’t think they can tell a whole lot yet.”

Unfortunately, Webb didn’t have health insurance, either.

While her mother starts to recover at home, VanSickle said she’s just starting to unravel and process everything that’s happened.

“I’m angry, really angry, because I don’t know how you can do that to another person,” she said. “You just don’t expect that level of what was done to her.”

VanSickle told 2 News Oklahoma that she’s sharing her mom’s story in the hopes of helping someone else dealing with domestic violence.

Just a week out from the attack, she said it’s too soon to see if there’s a silver lining. But if there is one positive to focus on, VanSickle said, it’s family.

“There was a lot of tension between several of us just with things that have gone on with my mom over the last few years, and I think this really scared everyone just to set this aside and be there for her.”

She has one wish for her mom.

“Come out of this and want something more than what she’s had, and know that she deserves so much better than that.”

If you aren’t able to donate, VanSickle said even a share means the world to their family, because it might reach someone else and help them leave a dangerous situation.

If you or someone you know is struggling, Domestic Violence Intervention Services has a 24/7 crisis hotline that will connect you to help immediately. That number is 918-743-5763.

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 Keith BieryGolick

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    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — Dan Junker’s shift is over. But he still has his gloves on.

“This one’s mine,” Junker said.

He’s holding two cheese coneys and a three-way. His brother, the director of catering at Skyline, started his shift 30 minutes ago. When Dan asks if I want my microphone back, I tell him to taste it first and tell me how it is.

“I don’t need to take a bite to tell you how it is,” he said.

Dan is 70 years old, and he only works part time now. But for him, part time means five days a week at this Skyline Chili until 2:30 p.m. And after most shifts, he makes himself lunch.

I ask if he ever gets tired of the food and he shakes his head.

“How do you think I stay so skinny?”

One by one, employees at the Skyline in Oakley look at pictures laid out on the counter.

“That one’s Dan,” a server said. “He’s in the checkered shirt.”

The pictures are of the brothers at a wedding, on vacation and with a Cincinnati Reds player. That one is from the first year they started working at the Skyline a few miles down the road.

“We both had hair back then,” Dan said.

And they have name tags to prove it. Pinned to the their polos, under the names, both tags say: 1978.

No one else has dates on theirs.

Doug Junker is the catering manager for several restaurants, so he doesn’t always work at this Skyline. But every Wednesday, he spends a little time with brother.

“It’s fun to see their interactions. They’re both very different people,” said Maddie Wilson, a coworker. “I have a brother and a sister. And I cannot imagine working with them.”

At different points during their shifts, the Junkers both tell me they had terrible first days. Because when they started at the Skyline in Norwood, there was a General Motors facility nearby. And on payday, the restaurant was always packed.

It was Doug’s first job, and he tells me he wanted to quit.

“I’m glad I didn’t,” Doug said.

Because at different points during their shift, again, they both tell me the same inspirational quote: “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

There’s wisdom in that, but who you work with might be just as important. The Junkers are living proof.

“It’s been a great 48 years,” Doug said, arm around his brother. “And we’re looking forward to the next 48.”

They both smile.

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 Alex Null

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    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — In Pleasant Ridge, if you’re up early enough on Friday morning, you may see a pack of parents and kids biking through the neighborhood.

It’s part of a nationwide trend called the “bike bus”. Parents and students from Pleasant Ridge Montessori get together on Friday mornings and ride their bikes to school.

Mackenzie Farmer started the tradition earlier this year.

“We thought it’d be really good for them to get some physical activity before school,” Farmer said.

Farmer said the rides to school help teach the kids bike safety, and parents help them learn the rules of the road.

Parents like AJ Horn said riding in a big group keeps everyone safe.

“It’s a great way to start the day,” Horn said.

Horn takes part in the roughly mile-long ride to the school along with his wife and three boys.

He said having parents and kids bike to school also helps ease traffic congestion around the building.

“We had 17 kids in our bike bus today, and that’s probably at least 10 cars off the road,” Horn said.

Horn’s wife, Erin, said Montgomery Road can be a little dicey during the morning rush. However, she said she and other parents make sure everyone is safe on the route.

“I do think that traffic is lighter on Fridays because we have a bunch of people biking,” Erin Horn said.

Erin Horn said most days it’s hard to get her boys up for school. But on bike bus days, she said it’s a different story.

“They’re up before me like, ‘Mom get up, get up, it’s time to go’ and I’m like, ‘My alarm hasn’t even gone off yet,'” Erin Horn said.

Parents encourage others to join the ride if they’re interested. The bike ride usually begins shortly after 7 a.m. near the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Ridge Circle.

The group said they’re looking forward to continuing the tradition next year.

“It creates a sense of community and belonging, because there’s kids that they didn’t know that are now biking with us,” Erin Horn 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 De’Jah Gross

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    MILFORD, Ohio (WCPO) — A volunteer organization’s last-minute fundraising push ensured no Milford High School senior would have to sit out graduation over an unpaid bill.

Feed Our Flock, a volunteer organization, raised $7,000 to cover the remaining outstanding school fee balance for seniors who were still at risk of missing graduation.

Initially, 125 Milford students carried a combined $23,000 in unpaid fees, but after the district reached out to families, the balance was reduced to $7,000 still owed by 35 students.

Candy Varner, co-founder of Feed Our Flock, said the organization wrote a check to cover the remaining balance on Friday.

“I did talk to a couple of parents yesterday, calling in, trying to figure out how much they owed. When I told them everything was covered, there were definitely some tears and excitement that one more burden was taken off their shoulders,” Varner said.

Feed Our Flock spent 12 years as a volunteer-run organization providing weekend food bags for students before closing last spring due to a decline in donations. Organizers kept the group’s 501(c)(3) status so they could step in when needed for situations impacting students.

Varner said donations to cover the fees ranged from $10 to $1,200.

“Some students have additional fees, but I think most of these were just those general fees that students have each year,” Varner said. “It is fun to see all the donations coming in and seeing the community really rally together.”

Milford High School Principal Kevin Metzger said there was a lot of nervousness going into Friday.

“Things come up, and life happens, and we do what we can do to provide support, and we are so thankful that Feed Our Flock reached out and stepped up so we can take care of these families and students,” Metzger said.

Metzger said the news came as a relief for the students.

“It was a very emotional response. I did have a specific student who reached out with a lot of empathy and care,” Metzger said.

This is Metzger’s first year as principal. As students reflect and prepare for graduation, he leaves this message with them before hitting the big stage.

“This is a big transition in your life. It’s a big change. Some of you are ready for it, some of you don’t want to leave, but regardless, live in the moment with each other, families and embrace the experience.”

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 Stephanie Stahl

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Jefferson Health’s mobile stroke unit is saving lives by providing advanced care on location and as patients are being transported to a hospital.

Seconds count with strokes, and now, instead of waiting to get to a hospital for treatment, it can happen on the way.

Gianna Parrillo-Shennard was overcome with emotion Monday when she saw the technology in a mobile stroke unit that saved her life.

“It really saved my life. … I could have died,” Parrillo-Shennard said. “You just don’t know your life could change in an instant.”

Parrillo-Shennard was just 21 when, in October, she was overcome at work, first with a bad headache.

“My speech was very, very slurred,” Parrillo-Shennard said. “It sounded like I was drunk, and I remember my face slouching to the side.”

A stroke unit fully equipped with a CAT scan and medications was dispatched.

“It’s like a hospital on wheels,” Upper Merion EMS Chief James Johnson said. “We can show up at your house and treat you for your stroke in your driveway.”

Dr. Alvin Wang with Jefferson Health says in addition to quick imaging from the CAT scan, this ambulance is also equipped with telemedicine. A stroke neurologist can remotely evaluate the patient and direct care.

“Every minute we wait to begin treatment is more brain cells dying,” Wang said. “We know the sooner that you get the diagnosis for a stroke, the better your chances are for a normal neurological outcome after the event.”

Parrillo-Shennard is living proof.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I thought strokes were for old people.”

She’s learned strokes can happen to anyone and that it’s critical to recognize signs like trouble with speech, balance or movement.

“I had two blood clots on the right side of my brain,” Parrillo-Shennard said. “By the time I got to the hospital, I was perfectly fine. My speech was back. Everything was back, so I was very thankful.”

Life is back to normal for Parrillo-Shennard, who’s going to have a baby in October.

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 Tommy Lopez

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — This week is the first step forward in the transformation of the former CNN Center. Now called The CTR (pronounced “center”), it opens to the public Thursday, debuting as a new food hall.

Renderings show what the first floor will look like once everything is complete.

There will be 11 food options. Some will be open this week, and the rest will be ready before the World Cup.

Ahead of the grand opening, CBS News Atlanta got a tour to see how it’s looking.

Here are the food options that will be opening:

Southern Belle Chicken Co. – Southern-inspired chicken concept led by Michelin-recognized chef Joey Ward, whose restaurants Southern Belle and Georgia Boy are both recommended by the Michelin Guide Flora d’Italia – Italian kitchen featuring house-made pastas, pizza, and classic Italian dishes made fresh daily, led by Michelin-star chef Stephen Ferdinand Dessert Box – Bakery and dessert studio, offering handcrafted sweets, mini cakes, and fresh-baked breads, also led by Ferdinand The Sparrow Group – Szechuan-inspired Chinese concept serving authentic dishes with signature heat and spice Morelli’s Ice Cream – Small-batch ice cream with signature creative flavors La Tropical – Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Latin cuisine Fuzzy’s – Seafood restaurant serving lobster rolls, ceviches, baked oysters, and rotating daily specials alongside fresh coastal favorites Patty and Frank’s – Burger and hot dog concept Robert Montwaid is launching with chef Andrew Zimmern Mimi Taqueria – Taqueria serving tacos, Mexican street food favorites, and house-made salsas CTR bar – The largest bar in Georgia; program will be led by Tiffany Howell, featuring seasonal, event-driven cocktails alongside a curated selection of wine, beer, and spirit-free offerings A cheesesteak concept and one additional concept are still to be announced In addition to everything there is to eat, the area will feature a huge bar. Developers say it’s the largest in Georgia.

“We’re trying to create something that excites people. It’s got to be an emotional experience. This building is a landmark,” said CP Group Founding Partner Chris Eachus. “It shows them a little bit about what Atlanta has to offer from an arts, culture, culinary scene, and does it in a family-friendly way – whether it’s enjoying a show, a sporting event, or attending something at the Convention Center, we really want to be the living room of downtown.”

Down the road, they’ll open other floors and towers. There will be space for retail, hotels, family housing, and offices.

Out front, the large letters “ATL” are replacing the iconic CNN letters that once welcomed visitors.

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.