Month: July 2026

By Neal Riley

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    NEW SHOREHAM, Rhode Island (WBZ) — Rising ocean temperatures are drawing more hammerhead sharks to New England waters, researchers say.

The Rhode Island-based Atlantic Shark Institute said this week that it tagged a hammerhead shark off Block Island for the first time ever.

Executive Director Jon Dodd said in a statement that the arrival of hammerheads in New England and this “milestone” tagging “raises a lot of questions” about the sharks’ migration patterns and habitat use. The electronic tag on the shark will allow the institute to follow the shark as it moves along the East Coast for up to a decade or more.

“With our warming waters, many of the shark species that New England residents associate with Florida and southern states are finding our water temperatures much more attractive than they would have just 25 years ago,” Dodd said.

In an interview with WBZ-TV last year, state shark biologist John Chisholm said hammerheads are also becoming an increasingly popular sight off Massachusetts, “especially around the islands and south of the Cape where the water gets really warm during the summertime.”

Chisholm said he expects other southern shark species to start popping up in the Northeast, including the bull shark, which is known to be the most aggressive toward humans.

The shark seen off Rhode Island was a scalloped hammerhead, which can grow up to 11 feet and weigh up to 335 pounds. Their range typically only goes as far north as New Jersey, according to a government map.

Massachusetts beachgoers don’t have to worry too much about hammerheads. Chisholm described the species as a “fish-eating shark” that is generally not interested in humans, but people should still keep their distance due to the sharks’ sharp teeth.

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 Elijah Westbrook

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    PASSAIC, New Jersey (WCBS) — Search crews will return to the Passaic River Friday morning to continue looking for a little girl who has been missing for more than a day.

First responders are looking for a 10-year-old girl after police say she and two other children were swept into the river while playing near a boat ramp Wednesday night. An 11-year-old girl survived, but the body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered.

Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said crews have been searching along a nine-mile stretch of the river using boats, sonar and drones.

The search, starting at 9 a.m., will focus on the stretch near Rutherford. Officials say they have already searched the area from the Passaic-Garfield border to Newark.

Lora said there was a sonar hit under the bridge just after 11 a.m. Thursday. A diver went into the water, but the girl was not found.

“They are beginning to understand that this is a recovery operation. They are extremely hurt, but they are thankful for everyone, and the families have bonded together,” Lora said.

A small memorial has been created where pictures of the girl are posted on a bridge.

Overnight, the little girl’s family waited, hoping for some kind of breakthrough.

“She was just at Thanksgiving dinner last time I seen her. She was just a bundle of joy to be around,” said relative Darrel Meggins.

The mayor said the family has been surrounded by support from the community, which has been gathering along the riverbanks since the tragedy first unfolded.

“We are going to be here. I am going to be until we find her,” one woman 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 Alexa Herrera, Christina Fan

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Loved ones and community members will say their final goodbyes to Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a Queens resident who was killed overseas during the war with Iran.

Rampersad, who was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, died during a missile attack on July 17 at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The 28-year-old was initially listed as missing before military officials confirmed her death.

The Ozone Park community has been mourning her loss, remembering her as a “hometown hero” and a beloved daughter, sister, spouse and friend.

The funeral will be held at Calvary Assembly of God on Rockaway Boulevard. Hundreds are expected to attend, carrying yellow ribbons and American flags to honor her and the ultimate sacrifice she made.

CBS News New York will stream the funeral at 9 a.m. It can be viewed in the live player on this page.

Rampersad was born in Trinidad but grew up in New York. She attended P.S. 108, then Forest Hills High School, before graduating from John Jay College with a degree in criminal justice.

At a vigil Monday night, friends and neighbors described her as humble, down-to-earth and someone who lit up every room she entered.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani are both scheduled to attend her funeral this morning.

The governor praised Rampersad for living a life of courage and selflessness while ordering state flags to be flown at half-staff.

Following this morning’s service, a funeral procession will travel down Cross Bay Boulevard. Members of the public are urged to line the streets to pay their respects as she makes her final journey home.

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 Larry Seward

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    MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — Parents on Medicaid said their children with autism and behavior disorders are losing crucial therapy hours in South Florida.

The parents blame state cuts and insurance changes that keep some specialists away from patients.

Betty Garcia said her son Marcos, 14, is hurting. Therapy that helped him make friends and control outbursts caused by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has nearly disappeared, Garcia said.

Dozens of Miami-Dade County behavior therapy providers approved by the state for such services lost contracts with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The agency oversees Medicaid’s low-cost health coverage for the state’s lowest-income families.

Six months ago, her son’s therapy was cut from 30 hours a week to 8.

“He came home from school and told me, ‘ Mom, sometimes I feel like I am invisible,” Garcia said.

Garcia quit her job as a pharmacy tech to help manage her son’s behavior.

“He’s asking me, Mom, why is my heart crying right now,” Betty Garcia said. “I remember I was in panic because that is a hard description.”

The impact is visible. Rainbow Behavior Therapy in Kendall is mostly an empty office. Owner Aliana Gurris said the state canceled the business’ contract to serve Medicaid clients with no explanation.

“Nothing (in the letter talks) about something (being) wrong, about any complaints, nothing,” Gurris said. “Then, that’s it. Finished. Stopped. (They) withheld the payment and that’s it.”

She is not alone — another clinic told CBS News Miami the same thing in June.

Attorney Henry Marines believes the issue is getting worse. Marines represents therapy providers accused of fraud.

“None of the cases I represented, not one, did (AHCA) find any wasteful abuse,” Marines said. “However, they delayed payment of these agencies, and these kids were left without services because money was not coming in to pay the technicians for services being rendered.”

Sunshine Health, which manages Medicaid insurance coverage for AHCA, also drew blame from Marines for service delays. In 2025, Sunshine Health issued a temporary pause on adding practitioners to make sure the state’s network providers are all credentialed.

CBS News Miami messaged Sunshine Health and AHCA for comment. Neither responded before the deadline for this story.

It hardly surprises Garcia. Her son is now being offered medication to replace the lost therapy.

“I prefer not to talk about that,” Garcia said.

Her family worries they may never get another option.

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.