Month: July 2026

By Kennedy Mason

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    ORANGE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — More than a decade after capturing national attention as the young boy who received a 3D-printed ‘Iron Man’ arm with help from actor Robert Downey Jr., Alex Pring is celebrating a new chapter.

This January, Pring will attend the University of Central Florida, where he plans to study aerospace engineering — returning to the same campus where Limbitless Solutions helped change his life as a child.

Born without part of his right arm, Pring received a custom-designed, 3D-printed bionic prosthetic from the UCF-based nonprofit. The moment became an international sensation when Downey, best known for portraying Iron Man, surprised Pring by delivering the device himself.

For Pring, however, the prosthetic represented far more than a memorable meeting with a Hollywood star.

“This has been a true part of me, and it has made me grow into the human being today — the man I am today,” Pring said.

Now, Pring is earning recognition for achievements beyond his childhood story.

e recently set two national records at The Hartford Nationals, one of the nation’s longest-running track and field championships for athletes with disabilities.

“It was an amazing experience being able to go compete with people with all sorts of disabilities and just have a better chance,” Pring said.

His next milestone brings him back to the place where his journey first began.

As a UCF student, Pring will study just steps away from the Limbitless Solutions lab that developed his bionic arm.

“It really is full circle,” he said.

For Limbitless Solutions Director Albert Manero, Pring’s return reflects the organization’s mission of creating opportunities that extend well beyond prosthetic technology.

“We’re so excited that he’s going to be here at UCF,” Manero said.

He said the team has been honored to watch Pring grow over the years.

“I think we’re honored to have watched him grow into the young man that he is today, and we’ve been cheering him on every step of the way,” Manero said.

Pring said the Limbitless team also inspired his decision to pursue aerospace engineering, a field he hopes will allow him to combine his passion for innovation with his personal experiences.

His ambitions extend beyond the classroom.

“I’m very, very excited to hopefully go to the Paralympics one day,” Pring said.

For the little boy who once looked up to superheroes, the next chapter is about pursuing dreams of his own.

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 Fort Worth dentist is behind bars, accused of administering a lethal dose of sedatives that killed a 4‑year‑old girl during a routine procedure, authorities said.

Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48, was arrested outside her dental office on Wednesday, according to newly released arrest records. She is now facing a felony charge of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.

Investigators say Hemphill gave 4‑year‑old Aithana Arriaga an oral liquid solution of Meperidine – also known as Demerol – along with two additional sedatives and nitrous oxide.

According to the arrest warrant, the April 1 appointment began as a routine tongue‑tie procedure at Cuddle Kids Dental Care, the Sycamore School Road clinic owned by Hemphill. Investigators say Aithana was given multiple sedatives before she went into distress.

Investigators say Hemphill was the only one who administered the drugs to Arriaga.

Detectives say Hemphill began chest compressions when the child became unresponsive. A second dentist, who had been on lunch break, stepped in and continued CPR until medics arrived.

The medical examiner told investigators that “the amount of meperidine found in Arriaga’s system would have been high for an adult and that the medication was given to her twice (double‑dosed).”

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled Arriaga’s death as meperidine toxicity.

According to the arrest warrant, doctors told investigators a normal adult range for meperidine is 200 to 500 nanograms per milliliter. Testing showed Arriaga’s level was 793 nanograms per milliliter.

Arriaga’s parents were not able to speak on camera, but on a GoFundMe page, they described their daughter as “filled with life and kindness,” saying her presence “always lit up a room and brought so much joy to everyone around her.”

Hemphill has been licensed as a dentist in Texas since 2017. The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners has been asked whether it has opened its own investigation and whether Hemphill has any prior disciplinary history.

CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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 Meghan Moriarty

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    BREVARD COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A Brevard County man spent 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. DNA evidence cleared him, and the charges were dropped. While a judge said he should receive more than $1 million in compensation, Jeffrey Abramowski said he hasn’t seen a dime.

“I feel like I’m still in prison,” Abramowski said. “When I first was released, I was the happiest person in the world. You know, I was going through so many wonderful emotions. I was finally able to make choices again. Now, all of a sudden, I get out here and I realize, man, I’m on my own, and the people who did this to me aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

His conviction was vacated in April of last year. In July 2025, the State Attorney’s Office dropped all charges and declined to retry him. In January 2026, a judge signed an order recommending compensation. It was filed the following month.

Abramowski said he was relying on that money because he has no job experience from the past two decades. He also said he was severely injured while in prison.

“An inmate attacked me and broke my ribs and hurt my side and everything, so I’m disabled right now,” Abramowski said.

A court order said a judge recommended Abramowski be declared innocent under Florida’s Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act. The order recommends compensation of $50,000 for each year he spent in prison, reimbursement of all court costs tied to his conviction, and expungement of his record in this case.

Abramowski said he hasn’t heard anything or received any compensation.

“I just wanna be able to try and catch up and have some sort of lifestyle,” Abramowski said.

Abramowski has set up a Spotfund if you feel inclined to help.

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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    HONOLULU (KITV) — It’s been two weeks since the Department of Health (DOH) began enforcement of Hawaii’s hemp retailers. Some critics of the new rules said it’s driving them out of business.

“Millions in damage has already been done,” said hemp retailer Lance Alyas.

This is one of dozens of hemp retailers here in the islands now at risk of being shut down under new rules being enforced by the Department of Health.

“Twenty to 30 businesses closed down and a majority of them have stopped selling these products completely,” he said.

The owner of Oahu Dispensary and Provisions said hemp retailers are living in fear. The DOH began enforcing new laws in July, requiring businesses to register with DOH in order to sell hemp products and ensure operators are complying with limits on THC — the psychoactive compound in pakalolo.

“That’s a crackdown. That’s enforcement in and of itself,” Alyas said. “It’s intimidating when the Department of Health comes to your business and says you can’t sell this, you can’t sell that, or else we’ll close you down or we’ll criminally enforce on you.”

For some businesses like Alyas’, that’s about 90% of inventory.

He’s one of almost 60 licensed retailers selling manufactured hemp products, but is suing the state to reverse the new rules.

“We face revenue loss. We’ve had employees leave because they don’t want the uncertainty,” he said. “When we closed down we had countless people — cancer patients included — crying to us because they don’t know where to get their medicine.”

Medical marijuana dispensary Aloha Green Apothecary said previously the state had no real regulations and relied on the federal rules for selling hemp products.

“What legislators didn’t know was that hemp cannabinoids could be manipulated to create higher THC products and these higher THC products can be euphoric and cause intoxication,” said Ty Cheng, president of Aloha Green Apothecary. “The issue that many hemp retailers face right now is that they’re uncomfortable with the level of regulation that they’re being subjected to.”

The DOH has visited almost 30 registered businesses and said so far compliance has been good. But there are still other businesses likely not following the rules.

“The THC limits they’ve been in place for a long time okay and some of the products like the vapes and the smokeables you were never allowed to sell in Hawaii,” said Andrew Goff, DOH Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation program manager. “Our goal is not to crack down on people selling hemp. Our goal is to make sure people are compliant. So we’re starting with education and with warnings, and to make sure that everyone knows because it is a confusing area.”

DOH is urging consumers and businesses to read the labels on products that you are buying or selling.

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 KITV Web Staff

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    KILAUEA, Hawaii (KITV) — The 51st episode of eruptions lasted for over eight hours on Kilauea’s summit on Wednesday, according to USGS.

The episode started at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday where fountains reached about 950 feet. Episode 51 ended abruptly at 4:46 p.m. later in the afternoon.

The instantaneous effusion rate peaked at about 370 cubic yards per second at 10:30 a.m. HST, with an average effusion rate of 200 cubic yards (150 cubic meters) per second for the entire fountaining episode. A earthquake associated with the eruption: A shallow magnitude-2 earthquake was detected beneath the southeast corner of Halema’uma’u crater at 2:52 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, low-level trade winds were forecast to move the lower part of the plume to the southwest, resulting in tephra fall in that direction.

South winds are expected, which could push parts of the plume to the north and result in ash and Pele’s hair falling in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and communities near it.

Ash can persist in the atmosphere for a longer duration depending on weather and wind conditions, though fountaining episodes generally last 12 hours or less.

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.