Man walking 11,000 miles across America brings hope to Chesterfield inmates: ‘Hold on, pain ends’

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Taylor Locke

Click here for updates on this story

    CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) — A man walking thousands of miles across America to raise mental health awareness made a stop at the Chesterfield County Jail on Thursday, sharing his story of recovery and resilience with inmates.

Kyndal Ray Edwards, a mental health advocate, is on the final stretch of a journey to walk to all four corners of the United States. He started on Jan. 1, 2022, at Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and has since walked to Washington state, then to San Diego, California, then to the Grand Canyon and Utah, back down to Key West, and is now making his way through Central Virginia headed to the most eastern point of Maine. He hopes to finish the journey on Oct. 25.

The HARP program at the Chesterfield County Jail has been Sheriff Karl Leanord’s passion project for 10 years. On Thursday, Edwards visited to speak with inmates.

Edwards knows life inside those walls all too well.

“I’ve been in county jail 11 times, in prison twice. I’m 33 years old. I have 13 felony convictions and a bunch more misdemeanors than that. But I’m always a firm believer that my past does not define me,” Edwards said.

His journey stretches back further than 2022. Edwards said the idea first came to him in 2013.

“When I was doing a year in the county jail, I read a newspaper article about someone that walked across America and I fell in love with the story,” Edwards said. “So I knew I wanted to walk across America since 2013. I tried to put together a walk to take off January 13, 2015. I broke into a post office that day instead and went to prison. I got out of prison and went back to prison, changed my life there.”

Edwards carries a sign that reads “You Matter” as he walks. For him, those two words carry deep personal meaning. He has faced his own darkest moments.

“I’ve tried to take my life twice. I’m here for a reason,” Edwards said.

Sheriff Leonard said Edwards’ visit carried a message that resonates deeply with the mission of the HARP program.

“Having a mental health crisis in your life or a history of it doesn’t define you. You can go on to be a real productive member of society. You can do great things. I think Coach Kyndal is showing that with somebody who’s had decades of mental illness, substance use disorder, two suicide attempts, and today he’s just, you know, somebody to look up to. And I think that inspires our folks that one day they can be somebody somebody else can look up to as well,” Leonard said.

The message is resonating with those he meets along the way, including inmates at the Chesterfield County Jail.

“Kyndal’s story is inspiring me because he is walking to the four corners of the United States to make people aware of what’s going on in their lives. You know, it doesn’t really hit home until it’s close to you,” Jack Forkey said.

Edwards said the 11,000-mile walk is about more than just the miles. He is doing it for mental health awareness, recovery, and in remembrance of loved ones lost.

“Hold on, pain ends. I believe that there’s always hope. I believe that we can all chase our dreams and passions,” Edwards said. “All of our stories can impact someone in a positive way.”

Edwards may be spotted walking throughout Central Virginia over the next few days as he continues north toward Maine.

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.

Northshore teen is raising awareness after her battle with mold-related illness

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Sula Kim

Click here for updates on this story

    MANDEVILLE, La. (WDSU) — A new study shows invasive mold infections may be more common than experts realized. The findings by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes from an attempt to better gauge how common these kinds of illnesses are. The government does not require doctors to report the illnesses according to the report. The researchers detected about 450 cases in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years. About a third of the patients died in the hospital. The researchers found that hospitals can expect to see 3 to 5 cases per year for every 100 inpatient beds. Most patients had impaired immune systems.

A Mandeville teenager has been struggling with mold-related illness and is sharing her story to raise awareness. 19-year-old Elaina Faler started getting sick 4 years ago.

Her symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, fever, rashes and difficulty digesting food.

But every time she went to the hospital, she says doctors told her nothing was wrong.

“They couldn’t figure it out and it was so frustrating getting told over and over that I’m a perfect patient, that it might be my anxiety or my G.I.,” Elaina said.

Until one day her father Chris Faler got a hunch to check out the vent at their Covington house which was only about 8 years old, and he says he found mold.

“I couldn’t sleep, I was bothered, so I took my light and climbed to the vent where the air comes out and peered in with my light and I saw all circles. Yellow, black, white, and I went ‘Oh my gosh this is it, it’s in our house,'” Faler said.

So, he called an environmental professional to confirm the mold in their home and immediately moved their family out.

They also found Dr. Andreas Grossgold in Florida who integrates holistic medicine into his practice.

Dr. Grossgold is a board-certified physician trained in both pediatrics and internal medicine, with advanced specialization in Integrative Medicine and Environmental Toxicity.

“What we found later is that it was not just mold but her reactivity, the reaction her body was having towards that. She has something called mass cell disease or mass cell syndrome,” Dr. Grossgold said.

Chris says Elaina had mast cell activation syndrome. It’s an autoimmune disease that’s triggered by environmental factors and in this case, he says it was mold that triggered it.

Chris said he believes he was also exposed to mold, but his immune system was able to fight it.

Elaina is now going through treatments at the clinic in Florida and as she continues to heal, she’s looking forward to her sophomore year at University of Alabama as a healthy student.

Elaina and her family want to raise awareness and educate other families on the dangers of mold. Chris is warning families to check their house for potential mold and get an expert to inspect your home if necessary.

“In Louisiana you’re going to have heat and coolness coming out of the vents and where they meet, that can form mildew and mold over time and then become toxic and get released, and we breathe that in,” said Chris.

Elaina’s mother Candace is grateful for friends and loved ones who offered support and prayers throughout their difficult journey.

“That’s what it takes a village, and sometimes when you don’t know the next move, you rely on God, you rely on family and friends and they were there. They helped us get where we need to be,” Candace said.

Chris says their health insurance does not cover expenses for Elaina’s treatments.

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.

Gretna woman awarded $3.6 million in Costco lawsuit; company appeals

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Izzy Fonfara Drewel

Click here for updates on this story

    OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — Costco is appealing a jury’s decision to award more than $3.6 million in damages to Kelly Rocha, a Gretna woman who alleged a Costco employee dropped a patio table on her back in 2018, causing permanent injuries.

In her lawsuit, Rocha said she has a permanent neck injury and nerve damage. She alleged Costco was liable for the negligence of its workers.

According to court documents, Rocha said she purchased a patio table from the Costco on West Dodge and 120th. She alleged the employee was loading the table into her vehicle when they dropped it, hitting her back.

Costco denied all allegations and, in its response filed in court, blamed Rocha for “her own negligence.”

Earlier this year, a jury awarded Rocha more than $3.6 million in damages. A month later, Costco filed a motion for a new trial, arguing the verdict was excessive and unsupported by evidence.

Court documents show a judge denied the motion but agreed the verdict was “on the high side.”

Costco is now appealing the judge’s decision with the Nebraska Court of Appeals. No hearing date has been set.

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.

Mt. Washington 86-year-old woman with dementia scammed out of thousands

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Daisy Kershaw

Click here for updates on this story

    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — A disturbing and dangerous scam cost a Mt. Washington grandmother with dementia $10,000.

Cincinnati police said the scammers drove the woman to her bank to withdraw the cash. Her family says it’s a miracle she made it home safely.

Cincinnati police are now looking for a man accused of driving the woman from her Mt. Washington home to her bank.

It started Wednesday with a chilling call and ended with her handing over thousands in cash.

“Yesterday I got a call from my mom, and she just seemed really upset,” said daughter Margie Massie, “She said, you can’t tell anybody, something really awful happened. I’m like ‘mom, what happened?'”

Massie explained how her mother was tricked by scammers. They called saying her grandson was arrested after getting into an accident, which never actually happened.

“They said they need $8,500 to get him out of jail, and it was his lawyer, and so I gave them the money,” Massie recalled her mom saying.

“I said, ‘well how did you give them the money?’ Because she doesn’t drive. I said, ‘did you write them a check? What happened?’ And she said no, they came and picked me up and took me to the bank.”

That’s when she broke the news to her mom that she had been scammed.

Massie says her mom is hard of hearing and vulnerable.

Massie is questioning how her mother was not flagged for taking out the $10,000.

“So, I went back to the bank today and I said she cannot take out any money without one of her five children with her, so they flagged her account,” said Massie. “I said you know, this really shouldn’t have happened in the first place she’s never taken that much cash out.”

Massie is now sharing a warning she hopes anyone with older parents, heeds.

“Talk to your parents and say, hey, listen, for this scam, if they say a person that you know or a loved one that you know, make sure you call someone before you go out and do this,” she said.

Cincinnati Police say they are investigating this case.

Massie’s mother told police the man who drove her was in a black sedan, wearing a nice suit, had dark hair and a mole on his face.

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.

Alabama 9-year-old with sickle cell disease returns home after life-saving transplant from sister

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Ryan Lovell

Click here for updates on this story

    LEEDS, Ala. (WVTM) — 9-year-old Isaiah Brooks is finally back home with his family after undergoing a bone marrow transplant to treat sickle cell disease.

Isaiah’s recovery at Children’s of Alabama meant weeks away from his siblings, but the family is now reunited under one roof. His 8-year-old sister, Isabella, served as his bone marrow donor and was found to be a perfect match — a rarity in less than 25% of sibling cases.

“We are beyond happy to finally be home,” the Brooks family said. “It’s been such a long journey, so being back together as a family feels incredible.”

Isaiah is reportedly doing well and enjoying the comfort of his own bed. During his hospital stay, the siblings stayed connected through daily FaceTime calls and by exchanging matching teddy bears with hidden pockets for leaving notes. Now, they no longer have to rely on technology or stuffed animals to communicate.

“His siblings are absolutely overjoyed to have him home,” his family said. “They have been constantly checking on him, asking if he needs anything, and making sure he’s comfortable. It’s been so sweet to watch how much they care for him.”

Before the transplant, Isaiah’s sickle cell disease often interrupted the siblings’ playtime, causing extreme pain, sudden hospitalizations and missed school days. Isabella, who enjoys playing hide-and-seek with her brother, stepped up without hesitation when she learned she could help.

“I wanted to help my brother out because I wanted him to live a long life. Because I love him a lot,” Isabella said previously.

Isaiah acknowledged his sister’s courage, calling her “really brave and really kind.”

With the hospital stay behind them, the family is focusing on spending time together.

“We’ve really just been soaking up this time together, loving on one another and appreciating being under the same roof again,” the family said. “After everything we’ve been through, these moments mean more than words can describe.”

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.

Man charged with hate-motivated assault of woman wearing hijab in South Burlington

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Sophia Venturo

Click here for updates on this story

    SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WPTZ) — A Burlington man is facing multiple charges after police said he assaulted a woman wearing a hijab and made derogatory comments to her on Market Street in South Burlington.

The South Burlington Police Department said officers responded just before noon Tuesday after receiving a report of an assault. The caller told police the incident may have been motivated by racial bias.

Investigators said a witness provided video of the incident, and officers obtained additional surveillance footage from a nearby business that helped identify the suspect. Officers later located 52-year-old Jonathan Strippe of Burlington nearby.

Police said Strippe assaulted the victim, damaged her cellphone and made several derogatory statements about her perceived race, religion and country of origin. The victim was wearing a traditional hijab at the time of the alleged assault.

Strippe was arrested and processed on charges of simple assault, unlawful mischief and hate-motivated crimes. He was cited to appear in Chittenden Superior Court on July 30 and released.

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.

1 dead, 1 arrested after crash on I-10 East at Vinton

KVIA on July 31, 2026

Joseph Montero

UPDATE (4:11 p.m.): The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said 75-year-old Silvia Resendez died in Wednesday night’s crash. It also said a 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in connection to the crash.

According to the sheriff’s office, the crash happened at 10:57 p.m. Thursday.

Investigators said a white GMC truck drove eastbound on the I-10 with a flatbed trailer carrying a truck. According to EPCSO, a Honda Civic driving behind the GMC hit the end of the trailer.

The driver of the Civic went to a local hospital and is in stable condition, EPCSO said.

The passenger, Resendez, died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.

EPCSO said Victor Alonso Saucedo-Torres drove the GMC and was allegedly intoxicated at the time. The sheriff’s office said his DWI charge included having a passenger under the age of 15.

Victor Alonso Saucedo-Torres’ booking photo.(Courtesy: EPCSO)

He booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $7,500 bond.

Special Traffic Investigators went into the investigation due to the severity of the crash.

UPDATE (2:18 p.m.): According to the Texas Department of Transportation, lanes on I-10 East at Vinton reopened.

UPDATE: The El Paso County Fire Department, West Valley Fire Department and Medical Examiner’s Office all arrived at the scene early Friday morning to assist.

ABC-7 has yet to hear back about any confirmed fatalities from this crash.

VINTON, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says it’s deputies are responding to a three vehicle crash on I-10 East and Vinton.

The Sheriff’s Office is reporting serious injuries but had no other details at this time.

The El Paso Police Department and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) say all lanes are closed with no clearing time in place.

This is a developing story and ABC-7 will continue to bring you updates as we learn more.

Click here to follow the original article.

Legal expert weighs chances of evidence suppression in alleged Lake Brantley High School murder plot

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Gail Paschall-Brown

Click here for updates on this story

    SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (WESH) — A legal expert is weighing in amid new developments in the case of an alleged murder plot at Lake Brantley High School, in which court documents reveal a defense attorney is now trying to suppress evidence.

New documents have been filed this week in the case against Isabelle Valdez. The Lake Brantley High School student and her friend and classmate, Lois Lippert, are charged as adults in an alleged murder plot after law enforcement got an anonymous tip in January.

The State Attorney’s Office has released text messages in this case, including one that reads, “WE WILL BE LIVE-STREAMING KILLINGS IN THIS CHAT.”

Investigators say the girls were obsessed with a boy at their school because he resembled Adam Lanza, the shooter who massacred young children at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012. They allegedly believed that by killing the boy, they would be able to bring the shooter back to life.

Valdez’s attorney, Edward Lopez, has filed a motion to suppress any and all evidence from an “illegal” seizure and search, as well as questioning of the teenager, plus any and all statements made by Ms. Valdez, any confession, and physical evidence, including evidence in her book bag.

Court documents state Valdez handed the assistant principal a white trash bag from her backpack containing a 10- to 12-inch knife, gloves, wipes, and other items.

WESH 2’s Gail Paschall-Brown asked criminal defense attorney Ryan Vescio, “What are the odds of this being suppressed?”

Vescio is not affiliated with the case but is an attorney with NeJame Law and was also a prosecutor for 15 years.

“The attorney did a very good job in presenting a thorough argument seeking suppression, however, the law is stacked against Ms. Valdez in this matter as it relates to school interrogation, searches, and because of that it’s likely that the motion to suppress might be denied,” Vescio replied.

Isabelle Valdez’s attorney also said his client was “not informed she could go back to class, nor were her parents contacted until hours later (…) and was not informed she was under investigation.”

“Parents should be concerned about this law, however, the Florida Supreme Court has held that police do not have to notify parents before speaking to their minor child,” Vescio explained.

The teenagers could be seen on video laughing and joking about the case after their arrest in January, in one instance cheering after finding out they were going to the same jail.

“Are we going to be in the same one?” Valdez asked an officer.

“Yeah,” the officer responded.

“Yay!” Valdez replied, followed by laughter.

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.

Lee County man sentenced to 20 years for mutilating two cats, leaving their severed heads in a box

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Carson Zorn

Click here for updates on this story

    BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WBBH) — A Lee County man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of mutilating two cats and leaving their severed heads in a box.

According to the State Attorney’s Office, Robert James Luther III, 38, was sentenced to five years in prison to be served consecutively on each of the four counts he was found guilty of: two counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two counts of aggravated stalking. The consecutive sentences bring Luther’s total sentence to 20 years.

Luther was convicted in May following a three-day trial.

According to the SAO, the crime occurred on March 13, 2025, in Bonita Springs. A man saw a box sitting on top of his mailbox, and when he looked inside, he found two severed cat heads. The box was wet and smelled like gasoline.

During the investigation, Lee County deputies confirmed that Luther had been near the scene and were able to determine that his van had been in the area the morning of the crime, the SAO said. The victim and his wife had been threatened by Luther for more than a year.

Around the time of the crime, a deputy located Luther at a nearby car wash scrubbing his van, the SAO said. Surveillance footage from the car wash showed Luther scrubbing his van for three hours. Footage also showed Luther had a red gas can sitting on top of the van.

The victim positively identified Luther, who was then arrested as he sat parked in his van behind a closed business. A search of Luther’s van revealed multiple firearms, a pellet gun, a machete, a saw blade, dark clothes, and two rolls of duct tape.

Deputies also searched Luther’s phone and found a video of Luther shooting two cats in the woods. The cats in the video matched the heads found in the box, the SAO 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.

Stocks Recover, Amazon Surges, Jobs Data Ahead

CNN Newsource on July 31, 2026

By Juliegrace Brufke | Quincy News Correspondent

Click here for updates on this story

    Washington (Quincy News) — Market Recap: Wall Street rebounded Thursday after stronger-than-expected Microsoft earnings lifted technology stocks. The S&P 500 gained 1.7%, the Nasdaq jumped 2.8%, and the Dow added 1.2%, recovering much of the ground lost in Wednesday’s selloff. Treasury yields held steady following the day’s inflation data, while oil prices pulled back after this week’s sharp rally.

Amazon shares jumped in after-hours trading Thursday after the company beat earnings expectations on strong AWS growth and upbeat guidance. Apple shares slipped despite topping estimates, as investors focused on weaker-than-expected services revenue and supply chain concerns.

Today’s Focus: The Employment Cost Index, a key gauge the Fed watches for wage inflation, comes out at 8:30 a.m. ET this morning. We’ll also get the final July consumer sentiment reading from the University of Michigan, offering a preview of consumer mood before next week’s big jobs report.

Exxon reported second-quarter earnings of $14.5 billion, or $3.48 per share ($3.52 adjusted), while Chevron beat forecasts with $12.1 billion in earnings, or $6.06 adjusted per share, its best quarter since 2022 as higher oil prices boosted results

ON THE SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026

-8:30 a.m. ET – Employment Cost Index

-10:00 a.m. ET – University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Final, July)

-Earnings – Exxon Mobil and Chevron

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.