Month: October 2026

By Hannah Kliger

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Fourteen years after Superstorm Sandy crippled public transit citywide, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it invested upwards of $7 billion to protect the system from future storms.

Resiliency upgrades included a major $500 million overhaul at Coney Island Yard. The 100-acre yard, one of the largest and most critical facilities in the MTA system, was inundated with saltwater when Sandy struck the New York area in October 2012, damaging infrastructure and disrupting operations.

“There was about two feet of water in the yard and saltwater and copper cables don’t go well together,” said Robert Laga, senior vice president of MTA Construction and Development.

Tens of millions of gallons of storm surge brought operations to a standstill. “It was a big Herculean effort to try and get the system back up and running,” he said during a rare tour of the sprawling facility.

For Abby Jordan, a lifelong Brighton Beach resident who was a student at Hunter College when Sandy hit, the storm exposed the stark differences between coastal communities and neighborhoods farther inland.

“It really became a tale of two cities,” Jordan said.

Jordan recalls traveling from her devastated neighborhood into Manhattan in the aftermath of the storm.

“Coastal communities really were impacted, and many other communities that were inland didn’t face as much devastation,” she said. “The trauma of constant emergency cleanup operations, transformer fires, and flooded buildings highlighted the inequities.”

At the sprawling Coney Island Yard, the MTA has since undertaken extensive flood protection and infrastructure improvements intended to limit damage during future coastal storms.

A massive flood wall now surrounds the property.

“We have a concrete wall that’s reinforced. And then in the event of a storm, we have a flood door which rolls over to that area and seals the yard shut. There are about nine or ten gates here that we have to protect,” Laga said.

Parts of the wall extend deep underground, to prevent seepage from below.

“Sixty-foot sheets, 35, 40 feet below grade,” Laga said during a drive around the perimeter. “So there could be an ocean around this yard. Water will not get in there.”

Another major component of the project is an elevated bridge stretching approximately 4,000 feet across critical sections of the yard. It carries cables that were previously routed underground and vulnerable to flooding.

“Power cables, third rail cables, return cables, communication cables, signal cables all run on this bridge,” Laga said.

The yard also has about 20,000 feet of drainage designed to move rainwater toward Coney Island Creek while preventing water from flowing back into the facility.

During Sandy, the creek overflowed and connected with storm surge coming from the ocean. The MTA also reinforced the railroad bridge that crosses the waterway, which was repeatedly hit with debris during the storm.

Laga said the storm forced the agency to reconsider the risks posed by rising seas and increasingly severe flooding.

“It was a wake-up call to the MTA,” he said. “When the subway system started, 100 plus years ago, nobody anticipated storm sea level rise, coastal events, or flash flooding.”

For Jordan, the experience helped shape her career in climate education and advocacy. Now, she is a climate education program manager at the National Wildlife Federation.

“It changed everything,” she said. “It put me on the path to not only understanding the climate science, environmental science, but the policies that need to be enacted to help communities really plan for a climate-resilient future.”

The now-completed work at Coney Island Yard is part of MTA’s plan to adapt its systems to flooding threats, intended to protect critical equipment and keep the system operating when the next major storm hits.

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 Elissa Candiotti

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — As nearly 60,000 runners take on the 26.2-mile course of the iconic New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 1, all eyes will be on the finish line. But ask Joanne Navarra and she’ll tell you the real magic happens at the start, where the full spectrum of the human experience unfolds.

“You know, it’s more exciting than the finish because you have everybody at one time, you know, and it’s like an adrenaline rush,” Navarra said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the marathon’s five-borough course. It’s a milestone that holds special meaning for Navarra, who is celebrating 50 years as the head volunteer at the race’s start village at Fort Wadsworth.

“I would never have thought the first year I was there, I’d still be doing this 50 years later, but I enjoy it,” she said.

On Oct. 24, 1976, as part of New York City’s celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial, the marathon’s starting line moved from Central Park to Staten Island, sending runners across five bridges and through all five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan.

At the time, the event looked nothing like the sprawling start village runners see today — only 2,090 participants took part, paying a $5 entry fee, supported by a small group of volunteers.

“It was like just a local race. You went to Fort Wadsworth and you signed up to run. My husband wanted to run. I said, ‘You’re out of your mind. What are you talking about?'” Navarra recalled. “I said, ‘Well, what am I going to do?’ So I started volunteering and helping them.”

She had no idea the event would ultimately represent the starting line to a new life adventure for her and her husband Victor, a New York City Fire Department lieutenant, for decades to come.

“It just grew bigger and bigger, and our roles grew bigger and bigger,” Navarra said. “And I think it was like maybe after about three years, [race co-founder and organizer] Fred Lebow said, ‘You guys can run the whole start.’ And that’s what we did.”

She’s even competed in the marathon herself a few times — volunteering in the early morning first, and then hustling to the back of the startling line right after.

Over the years, the Navarras helped New York Road Runners transform race-day logistics into a well-coordinated operation. From recruiting volunteers and organizing corrals to directing runners toward the starting line at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, they became integral to getting the race underway.

But race day has never been quite the same for Navarra since Victor died in 2007 from paranasal sinus cancer, which was attributed to his volunteer work at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Continuing their marathon tradition has since become one of the most meaningful ways she honors his legacy.

“I mean, it was like a passion for him. And he loved the start because it was everybody together,” Navarra said. “Up until his dying day, he was going to be at that marathon.”

Attending the marathon was, in fact, one of Victor’s final goals. After doctors gave him just months to live, he made a list of things he wanted to do.

“The last goal was he was going to be at that marathon. Come hell or high water, he was going to be at the marathon,” Navarra said. “And at that marathon he was blind, he had no idea what he looked like, but he was there and he could barely talk. He had said to me, ‘If something happened to me before that just put me on ice.'”

Now, 19 years later, Navarra is still leading the charge. In the days leading up to the race, she’s busy overseeing the construction of the start village area, hosting meetings with volunteers to run through race-day logistics, and distributing trash and donation bags for clean-up in the corrals.

And by 8:30 a.m. on the big day, you can find her 85 feet in the air, perched in the bucket of an FDNY truck overlooking the starting line and sending orders from above despite her fear of heights. She says Victor would’ve gotten a kick out of that.

“He knows how much I hate heights, and I still hate them. I hate even getting on the step ladder, “Navarra said. “I think he’d be proud that I’ve continued to do it, you know, and kept all the relationships going.”

On Nov. 1, as nearly 2,000 volunteers gather at the start village under Navarra’s guidance, it’ll be a celebration not just for the runners but for the woman who’s helped make the starting line a happy place to be for 50 years now, with no finish line in sight.

“You don’t really see a sad face. It’s just nice to see everybody all together and having a good time,” Navarra 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 Madeline Bartos

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    GREENE COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Two people are facing charges after a string of copper wire thefts that caused about $200,000 in damage in Greene County, police said.

Pennsylvania State Police on Thursday said troopers in Waynesburg have been investigating numerous burglaries and thefts throughout Greene County over the past six months.

Police said people have been stealing copper wire from cellular tower sites, transformers and other energy supply systems, resulting in about $200,000 in damage.

After an “extensive” investigation, police said troopers executed multiple search and arrest warrants throughout the county on Monday. As a result of the investigation, police said 48-year-old Glen Miller II and 38-year-old Natasha Baker, both of Cumberland Township, were charged in connection with multiple incidents.

Both Miller and Baker are in the Greene County Prison, police said.

AT&T has said on its website that it’s been experiencing “an alarming increase” in copper theft and vandalism impacting its network infrastructure. The company said that the thefts can put people at risk, impacting their ability to call for help in the case of an emergency.

“The Pennsylvania State Police remain committed to investigating crimes that impact critical infrastructure and the communities we serve,” police said in a press release.

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 Tom Dougherty, Ben Payne

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    BUCKS COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Four people were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning in Lower Southampton, Pennsylvania, according to Bucks County dispatch.

Bucks County dispatch told CBS News Philadelphia that first responders responded to a home in the 300 block of Philmont Avenue just after 8 p.m. Thursday.

Four victims were rushed to the hospital, Bucks County dispatch said. They said three dogs and a canary were also affected. The township said all four people were conscious, but didn’t have an update on their conditions.

The source of the carbon monoxide remains under investigation.

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 Tammy Mutasa

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    WATERTOWN, Massachusetts (WBZ) — What started as a Halloween party turned into an unforgettable surprise for dozens of young Boston Celtics fans in Watertown, Massachusetts, on Thursday.

More than 60 kids at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club got the chance to meet some of their favorite basketball players, who traded their green jerseys for colorful costumes.

Mike Conley Jr. showed up dressed as Scooby-Doo, Ron Harper Jr. transformed into the Cat in the Hat, and Dillon Mitchell brought SpongeBob SquarePants to life.

“I felt really excited; I got a rush of adrenaline,” said Celtics fan Elisa Beck.

The Celtics teamed up with Xfinity to host the surprise celebration, featuring Halloween activities, games, and one-on-one time with the players.

The young fans got to pick up basketball pointers from the pros, challenge them in games and enjoy a dunk show from Celtics mascot Lucky the Leprechaun and his crew.

“It’s very exciting,” said Alex Faria of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. “I’ve never seen Celtics players like this up close.”

But beyond the costumes, high-fives and cheers, the event was also about inspiring the next generation to dream big.

“I want to be a basketball player,” Beck said, sharing her hopes of one day playing the sport herself.

Conley, who spent time interacting with the children while dressed as Scooby-Doo, offered some encouragement.

“Never let anybody tell you what you can’t be or can’t do in this world,” Conley said, urging the young fans to aim high and dream big.

For Harper, the celebration was also a reminder of his own childhood, and the impact professional athletes can have on young fans.

“I remember being a little kid, meeting NBA players, meeting basketball players and just people I looked up to and those are memories I still carry with me,” Harper said.

He said he was grateful to help create those same experiences for the children in Watertown.

“It’s a day that none of these kids will forget,” Harper said.

For the young Celtics fans, the Halloween celebration delivered more than costumes and basketball. It was a chance to meet their heroes and make memories that could last a lifetime.

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 Aaron Parseghian

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — As colorectal cancer rates continue to rise among younger adults, a team of Boston researchers has identified differences in tumor cells that could potentially lead to new treatments.

The findings offer hope to survivors like Kristen Vincent of Orleans, who was just 37 years old when she learned she had stage 3 colorectal cancer.

“I was actually staged on my youngest daughter’s second birthday. So, I found out that I had stage three cancer on her second birthday, and that was my biggest fear was missing their lives,” Vincent said.

Her treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute included 28 days of radiation, surgery, eight rounds of chemotherapy and 11 months with an ileostomy bag.

Throughout her battle, Vincent said she tried to maintain a positive outlook.

“Every day I would tell myself, cancer is not going to kill me today,” Vincent said.

Now, Vincent has had five years of clean scans. She also has a few years participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge, raising more than $25,000 for cancer research at Dana-Farber, the hospital she credits with her positive outcome.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer rates among people under 50 have been increasing by nearly 3% annually in recent years. The disease is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in that age group.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute published a study examining why younger patients are increasingly being diagnosed with the disease.

“We’ve seen, as you said, this trend has been increasing, the incidence of colorectal cancer in individuals under 50 for some time. But we really didn’t know why. We didn’t know if the disease was different in younger people versus older people. And that’s what our study aimed to address,” said Dr. Ana Anderson, one of the study’s senior co-authors.

The research team analyzed 189 tumors and more than 850,000 individual cell nuclei, including samples from more than 50 patients under age 50.

Anderson said researchers discovered differences in both the cells and gene expression within tumors from younger patients compared with older patients.

“Specifically, we found that stromal cells, the cells that kind of make the connective tissue, are in higher proportion compared to the malignant cancer cells in the younger patient tumors,” Anderson said.

According to Anderson, those stromal cells can produce factors that suppress the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight cancer. They can also form a barrier that prevents drugs from entering tumors.

Researchers also identified differences in genes that may contribute to more aggressive forms of the disease.

The findings do not yet explain why more young people are developing colorectal cancer, but Anderson said they provide new avenues for researchers to investigate and could eventually lead to treatments specifically designed for younger patients.

“Before we were just trying to look for differences, now we have some differences that we can kind of dig into further to hopefully understand biology, and that could lead to interventions down the road,” Anderson said.

For Vincent, the new research and potential for more is encouraging.

“It’s exciting to me because the last thing I want is another young person with a young family to have to go through what I went through,” Vincent said.

She is also encouraging others, particularly younger adults, not to ignore potential warning signs.

“If you are finding blood in your stool, you need to call your doctor right away if it is a consistent thing, because the earlier you’re able to get the diagnosis, the higher likelihood you will have to beat this,” Vincent said. “So please don’t be embarrassed. Colonoscopies are not that bad. It’s just so critical to catch it early.”

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 Adam Thompson

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    HOWARD COUNTY, Maryland (WJZ) — A Howard County police officer will not face charges for his role in a pursuit that ended in a crash, killing one man and injuring two others in Jessup on Sept. 6, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General announced Thursday.

Investigators said that around 2 a.m., Police Officer First Class Amir Parker was on duty in an unmarked Ford F-150 in the parking lot of a Royal Farms gas station in the 7100 block of Montevideo Road in Howard County when a white Infiniti Q60 struck his vehicle.

The Infiniti driver fled, prompting a brief pursuit that lasted about one minute. During the pursuit, Parker’s vehicle reached speeds of 80 mph, investigators said. Parker maintained radio communication and slowed down while traveling through an intersection, according to investigators.

The Infiniti driver lost control after crossing railroad tracks and struck a retaining wall after entering Anne Arundel County, investigators said. Three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

Anthony L. Bowers Jr. died in the crash, and two other occupants were taken to a hospital.

“After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the officer did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute the officer in this case,” the office said.

The Attorney General’s Office released police body-worn camera footage of the crash.

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By Dan Raby

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — Investigators have charged a second woman with murder in connection with a child found dead in a southwest Atlanta home on Monday.

Authorities say Jasmine Jenkins will be charged with murder and first-degree cruelty to children.

The Atlanta Police Department tells CBS News Atlanta that officers were called to do a welfare check at a home on the 3500 block of Cardinal Drive SW on Monday evening. After officers and members of the Atlanta Fire Department forced their way inside the residence, they found the body of a 4-year-old inside. The child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators tracked a vehicle believed to be connected with the case to Wilkes County. Early Tuesday morning, deputies arrested 32-year-old Jasmaine Smoak, charging her with second-degree cruelty to children and concealing the death of another. On Thursday, authorities said that Smoak now also is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and first-degree cruelty to children.

Officials have not shared many details about the investigation or what led to Jenkins’ arrest. She remains in custody in Wilkes County and will be transported to Atlanta to be interviewed in the near future.

The investigation remains ongoing, and officials are asking anyone with information to call the Atlanta Police Department.

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 Chelsea Jones, Ana Maria Soler

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    MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — The cousin of a woman killed in a murder-suicide at a northeast Miami-Dade apartment complex says she begged the gunman to let her, her cousin, and their aunt leave before he shot her cousin and then himself.

Maria Espinosa said she watched her cousin, Denise Polo Fuentes, die. She said she, Polo Fuentes, and their aunt went to the 55-and-over complex on Wednesday night to pick up Polo Fuentes’ belongings. Espinosa said Polo Fuentes’ ex, Frank Paba, was there and wasn’t acting like himself.

“He told us everyone here is gonna die tonight,” Espinosa said, according to a translation of her remarks in Spanish.

“I was begging for the lives of the three of us, for my life, my cousins, and for my sisters. Pleading with him to let us leave, saying we had our children,” she said, in translation.

Espinosa said Paba then shot Polo Fuentes in the heart and then shot himself.

Paba’s sister, Yolima Paba, said her brother and Polo Fuentes had not been together for two months.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the woman went to the apartment near Northeast 14th Avenue and 170th Street shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday to retrieve her belongings. Investigators said the man shot and killed her and then turned the gun on himself.

A neighbor who didn’t want to be identified said she knew the couple and that Polo Fuentes had told her she was done with Paba. The neighbor said the area is typically quiet.

It is unclear whether this was the first domestic incident between the two. CBS News Miami has asked the Sheriff’s Office and is waiting for a response.

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.