Month: July 2026

By Olivia Acree

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    KANSAS (KSHB) — A backyard garden behind a Lenexa chicken restaurant is doing more than growing fresh ingredients — it’s teaching customers, especially kids, where their food comes from.

Todd Johnson, owner of Strips Chicken and Brewing, grew up on a farm. Even after trading in his boots for an apron, he brought his agricultural roots to the restaurant. Now he’s hoping those roots spread to his customers.

“This is a great way to help educate people about where their food comes from,” Johnson said.

The garden supplies cucumbers, tomatoes, corn and more — all making their way from the garden straight to the table.

For some of his youngest visitors, getting their hands in the garden is the best part. Trinity Leckliter, a young customer learning to garden, already has a favorite plant.

“Tomatoes,” Leckliter said. “Because they’re yummy and juicy.”

Johnson said growing food at the restaurant isn’t really about saving money — it’s about showing people where dinner begins.

“Great for customers to come out and have their kids pick a flower or pick a tomato fresh off a vine, because kids don’t get exposed to that, especially here in the city,” Johnson said. “I think it’s important for people to see where the food actually comes from, so they can appreciate what they’re eating.”

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

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    ROCKLIN, California (KCRA) — A Rocklin-based company has been selected by a NASA contractor to develop critical components for a lunar rover that will be used in Artemis missions.

Cameron Spangler, a Northern California native, founded Innova Product Development nearly two decades ago, initially focusing on components for medical equipment and aviation. Now, his company is subcontracting for NASA’s Artemis program.

“Definitely not for doing stuff for going back to the moon,” Spangler said when asked if he ever imagined working for NASA. “We’ve always had big ideas and big stuff going on, but getting to work on things that impact people in a positive way has always been a part of our DNA.”

Spangler explained that the opportunity came after years of collaboration with the NASA contractor.

“Then it was a process that took several years actually. We did some projects for this same company, and then two years later they get the bid from NASA, and we’re ready to go on the rover,” he said.

Three companies are working to build lunar rovers, which are expected to be sent to the moon by 2028. Innova is contributing two subsystems for the rover, including a communication hub that ensures all parts of the rover can interact seamlessly.

“We’re doing two subsystems for the rover. One of the systems is a communication hub, so it makes sure all the little parts of the rover can talk to each other and they can do that,” Spangler said.

The second subsystem is a vital controller that monitors the rover’s systems and ensures redundancy in case of a failure.

“If one of the systems goes down, then it’s monitoring those systems and it makes sure to bring up the redundance so everything can continue working,” Spangler said.

While Spangler never imagined working for NASA, he is now focused on expanding his team in Rocklin to tackle the high-profile project.

“It absolutely is necessary. We have a lot of work to get done, and this is the highest profile one, and we need to make sure we do it right,” he said.

The lunar rovers are part of NASA’s broader mission to establish a permanent base on the moon.

“I mean this is the first time humankind will try to make a permanent location on another rock out there. The history of it, the weight of it, does not go over my head,” Spangler said.

Innova is currently looking to hire three more engineers to support the project.

Spangler said he plans to be there when the rovers are launched toward the moon.

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 Grace Rodriguez

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    THUNDERBOLT, Georgia (WJCL) — A centuries-old live oak in Thunderbolt has become the center of a dispute between neighbors who want to save it and a property owner who neighbors say wants to develop the land.

The Dixon family says the neighborhood tree has been part of their lives for generations.

“The tree has been in our family for 70 years. My wife, we’re married 50 years next year. Her whole life is right here in that tree. Means a lot to us,” Maurice Dixon said.

Neighbors say they recently learned the tree could be removed after the property owner planned to sell the land. They say they then tried to buy the property to protect the tree.

“He gave me a number that was very high. So I made him a substantial offer, slightly less than that. And he, he turned it down,” neighbor Dennis Scott said.

Neighbors say they believed permitting would allow the tree to be trimmed, not removed. They say the process became confusing after work to trim the tree on Monday stopped.

“It’s rated to be 150 at least up to 300 years old. So this is far beyond us. You know, as human beings,” Scott said.

The Dixon family says the tree has stood on the property for generations and that they do not want their last memory of it to be its removal.

Neighbors say someone with the town of Thunderbolt recently came out to measure whether a home and the tree could coexist on the lot. They say they are not sure what happens next.

“My whole family, my wife, my niece, they were crying yesterday. Luckily, we’re trying to do the right thing and do what we’re doing now, and it hurts me. It really does, man,” Dixon said.

WJCL 22 News has reached out to the town of Thunderbolt and the property owner for comment. Neither has responded.

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 DeAndria Turner

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A gazebo in the center of town has become a place of comfort for Kimberly Hutchins.

It is surrounded by reminders of her daughter, Kaitlyn Hutchins: the firehouse that brought her home, the businesses that supported the family and the Dairy Queen where Kaitlyn had her first and only job.

“I like the gazebo,” Kimberly said. “It’s weird. It gives me kind of comfort to be here in the middle of everything.”

Kaitlyn died two months ago after a long battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Now, her family is learning how to carry her story forward while navigating the weight of grief.

For Kimberly, the nights she returns home from work are often the most difficult.

They are using it to support other children and families facing cancer. The foundation has already donated sheets and blankets to a children’s oncology unit.

For Kaitlyn’s birthday, the family plans to donate board games to help patients spend time with their loved ones during treatment.

“Next month, for her birthday, we’re donating new board games in her honor so that families can have family time,” Hutchins said.

The foundation will also award scholarships of $500, $1,000 and $2,000 to high school students who plan to pursue careers in health care after graduation.

The family is also advocating for pediatric cancer funding and research.

“We are fighting for a couple of bills right now for pediatric and sarcoma cancer research,” Hutchins said.

The family calls its work doing “Katie things” — acts of kindness meant to help others feel seen, supported and loved.

Hutchins said Kaitlyn’s story continues to reach people beyond their hometown.

“I get messages every day about how her story has impacted people,” Hutchins said. “They’re now in church. They now have a reason to live.”

Kaitlyn’s family said it hopes the foundation will keep her memory alive while providing support and comfort to others facing cancer.

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 Renata Schmidt

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    OGUNQUIT, Maine (WMTW) — What began as a zoning dispute over large metal roosters in Ogunquit, ME, has turned into an autism acceptance movement.

Dave and Sara LeBlanc own The Omelette Factory, directly next to their home. They would display several large roosters on their lawn because their autistic daughter, Pyper, loves them. They said the roosters help Pyper regulate her emotions before going to school.

However, in April, they were fined because the town said the roosters were advertisements for the restaurant.

The family appealed and won a variance, allowing them to have two roosters for Pyper for disability access. The two roosters are now connected to the house by a chain link, but Sara LeBlanc said the family was fined again because the roosters needed to be bolted down to create a physical railing.

“We got another fine, a $500 fine, and we’re told we had to take them down immediately. And I said, I’m not doing that. So here they still stand.”

LeBlanc said she doesn’t know where the confrontation with the town will go, but the community has been stepping up to “foster” the roosters.

“We decided since Pyper started with us as a foster kiddo, we’d start fostering out of roosters,” LeBlanc said.

Wheels N Waves, a business just down the road, is fostering a rooster called “roostermon.”

“They should be able to have these things out in front of their house,” said owner Bob Morrell. “If that helps their daughter transition with where she is, you know, it seems pretty simple to us.”

Now, the movement has spread further than Maine.

Renee Savage taught in the area for over 30 years before moving to Florida but follows Maine news. She says she read about Pyper and the autism awareness angle, and wanted to get involved to advocate for students.

“I support kids with autism, and adults with autism, and I thought this was a great way to get it out there, not only in Wells but communities outside of Wells and Ogunquit.”

The family says they want to capitalize on the momentum this has caused in raising awareness for autism, and plan to start a nonprofit.

“What really hits Dave and I close to home is how many people that are coming in with children that have disabilities,” said LeBlanc, saying people have been telling her, ‘You need to stick with it. Nobody gets this much attention around this. Please stick with it for all the kids. Please continue to be that voice.'”

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 Alexis Beckett

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Former NFL and Boston College quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is hoping to be a game-changer again only this time, in the field of medicine.

He’s undergoing testing in Boston to help doctors get closer to being able to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in living patients.

“I feel a little bit like a guinea pig today, but that’s quite alright,” Hasselbeck said.

A major step forward on the research side is DIAGNOSE CTE, a multi-state research project that started in 2015 and is now in its second phase.

The project is led by Dr. Michael Alosco, the co-director of clinical research at the Boston University CTE Center.

“Once we can detect this disease early, we can then start to intervene,” Alosco said. “We learned a lot about what a brain might look like on an MRI scan in the first version. As we are entering the second version, one of the things we are really interested in is how can we now look at things like the blood, or other types of imaging techniques to get even more accurate in our detection and diagnoses, but also more accessible.”

Across the five sites involved in the study, hundreds of people at risk for CTE are evaluated. Some of these people have symptoms, while others are asymptomatic.

Hasselbeck has been an ambassador for the research.

“In my case, I played quarterback, so the guys in front of me were probably doing more hitting, protecting me in a sense,” he said. “I think in a way, I feel like this is a way to give back to them.”

For two days, Hasselbeck went through comprehensive evaluation at the BU CTE Center.

The evaluation included multiple brain scans, blood tests, and psychological testing.

“Eventually in the not so distant future, have this algorithm that is going to combine all of these different data points to get us to a place where we can be confident for some people about CTE diagnosis,” Alosco said.

The research group hopes to have more partnerships, sponsors, and volunteers involved in the future.

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 John Perik

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    LAKE WORTH BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — A Lake Worth Beach man was arrested earlier this month on charges related to attempting to sell or molest sea turtles.

Sixty-three-year-old Addison Mullen is accused of trying to sell a rare Hawksbill sea turtle shell on Facebook Marketplace for $2,700, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC officers stated in an arrest report that Mullen did not have the required paperwork for the shell. Officers obtained a search warrant, went to Mullen’s home on North K Street, seized the shell, and arrested him.

Working to learn his side of the story, WPBF went to his home; a person briefly opened the door and then shut it. However, Mullen’s neighbor, Olga Auson, shared her perspective.

“I know Addison for many years, and I know he is such a good guy,” Auson said. “The only thing I know is that somebody gave it to him, and he just try to get rid of his stuff because he is planning to move.”

FWC officers believe the shell is from an Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle.

Sarah Hirsch, director of research at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, explained that if you come across a sea turtle shell, contact either the FWC or Loggerhead.

Hirsch also highlighted the unique characteristics of the hawksbill sea turtle shell, saying, “They’re notorious actually for their beautiful shells.”

Authorities are still working to confirm how Mullen originally obtained the shell.

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.