Month: October 2026

By Adam Thompson

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    BALTIMORE CITY, Maryland (WJZ) — Baltimore City will begin tapping the Susquehanna River as a supplemental water source Monday, Oct. 5, as drought conditions continue across the region.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works said the move comes in response to prolonged drought conditions and declining reservoir levels, including at Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs.

Susquehanna River water will be blended with water from Loch Raven Reservoir before being treated and tested at the Montebello water treatment plants, DPW said. The blended water will then enter the regional drinking water system.

A representative with the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation told CBS News Baltimore that some residents could notice changes to their water.

“A different taste, a different smell, a different odor with the water,” said Ron Synder, with the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation. “It’s because water pumped in from the Susquehanna has more natural sediments in it, and it could lead to those conditions.”

Synder added, “It’s perfectly safe for drinking, for bathing, for cooking.”

Officials said the blended water will primarily serve areas supplied by the Montebello plants, including portions of Baltimore County. Areas supplied by the Liberty system are not expected to receive Susquehanna River water.

“Our residents and businesses deserve to know what to expect before this change occurs,” Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said. “Baltimore County is working to make sure people have clear, accurate information and can remain confident that their drinking water is safe. We are also asking everyone to continue doing their part to conserve water while these drought conditions continue.”

Baltimore City DPW said the blended water will be treated and tested using the same process as the existing water supply and will continue to meet federal and state drinking water standards.

“Most residents are not expected to notice a significant change, although some may notice a minor difference in the water’s taste, odor or color,” said DPWT Director Lauren Buckler. “The treatment and testing requirements remain the same, and we will continue coordinating with Baltimore City and sharing updates so residents and businesses know what to expect.”

DPW said the length of time Susquehanna River water will be used will depend on rainfall, reservoir recovery and overall water-supply conditions.

Using the supplemental source will help preserve the region’s stored reservoir supply, but officials said rainfall is still needed to restore reservoir levels.

How to conserve water Baltimore County continues to urge residents and businesses to conserve water by:

– Repairing leaking faucets, hoses and fixtures. – Running only full loads in dishwashers and washing machines. – Taking shorter showers and turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving. – Postponing lawn and garden watering. – Avoiding washing sidewalks, driveways and other outdoor surfaces. – Limiting the washing of cars, boats and equipment.

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 Drew Aunkst

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A 12-year-old girl who was killed in a shooting at a youth football game in West Baltimore over the weekend is being remembered by her family as a loving daughter and granddaughter who enjoyed dancing, music, and spending time with the people she loved.

Khloe Ishway was killed Saturday night at Leon Day Park, where a youth football homecoming game was taking place. Four other people were also shot.

Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument over a parking spot.

Khloe’s family told WJZ they did not plan to stay at the park long Saturday. They said they were there to drop something off when the shooting happened.

“I’m gonna just miss my baby whole. I miss everything about her,” Khloe’s mother, Kristin Reese, said.

Khloe’s grandmother said the 12-year-old was always by her side and called her every day.

“She was always with me. That was my best friend. She called me every day. Now who’s going to call my phone? My phone don’t ring no more,” she said. “I’m going to miss my baby.”

Family demands justice after deadly shooting Police said the shooting happened just feet from the youth football game at Leon Day Park. Investigators said the incident began with an argument over a parking spot.

“Only thing I can say is, to bring a gun to a kid’s event, is already a clown move. Like, you don’t do that,” Khloe’s mother said. “And I want justice for my baby.”

One of the youth football organizations involved in Saturday’s game told WJZ in a statement that, based on the information available to the organization, the shooting did not originate from the homecoming football game and did not involve the Charm City Buccaneers, the opposing football program or a dispute between the two teams.

The organization said the argument over a parking spot began in the neighborhood above the park. Police have not independently confirmed that account but have said the shooting stemmed from an argument over parking.

“You hit innocent kids, you dead wrong,” Khloe’s mother said.

Khloe’s family remembers her as “forever 12” Now, her family is mourning a girl they say should have had many more years ahead of her.

“Khloe, I love you and I miss you. And you forever 12. You forever my baby,” her mother said. “You will forever live through me, and I know she’s in a good place and she’s happy, and that’s what matters.”

A peace walk is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. in Khloe’s honor.

As of Sunday night, police had not announced any arrests or provided additional information about suspects in the shooting.

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 Brian Unger

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    CANTON, Georgia (WUPA) — On a rainy Saturday in Canton, the sound of saws, sanders, and drills filled the covered entrance of a local Lowe’s store.

Dozens of volunteers came to cut, sand, drill, stain, and assemble stacks of lumber into something most people rarely have to think about: a bed.

The volunteers are part of the new Cherokee County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national nonprofit with a simple mission: “No kid sleeps on the floor.”

Dan and Nancy Kohl started the local chapter after volunteering at a bed build several years ago.

At the time, Dan Kohl was still working. He spent much of his career as the CEO of private-equity-backed healthcare companies. After retiring, the Kohls began looking for a way to give back.

Cherokee County did not have a Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter, so the couple applied to start one and began confronting the potential size of the need.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace estimates that the number of children without beds nationally is equivalent to roughly 3% of the population. Applied to Cherokee County, with about 275,000 residents, that estimate would represent roughly 8,000 children.

Dan Kohl acknowledges the estimate is difficult to verify locally. But even if it substantially overstates the problem, he says, the number is still troubling.

“Let’s assume it’s wrong by 75%,” he said. “That still says there’s 2,000 kids that don’t have a bed. And honestly, that’s just unacceptable. It’s just unacceptable.”

The Kohls began reaching out to community organizations, friends and neighbors for help. The response grew to include local civic groups, nonprofits and families, including members of the Young Men’s Service League, where mothers and sons volunteer together.

Among them were Kirby and her son Charlie, who spent their Saturday working side by side on the beds.

“I think it’s super cool because I’m able to do something for kids that don’t have something that most of us have,” Charlie said.

He acknowledged he might otherwise have been home watching college football. For his mother, the day offered something else.

“Giving back for sure is at the heart of it,” Kirby said. “And then just being able to spend time and do it together. I mean, really, what could be better?”

Even the Kohls’ own family has joined the effort. Their grandchildren have helped brand the wooden beds and make deliveries, while their daughter helps with vetting families.

The organization also works with groups across Cherokee County to identify families who need help and recruit volunteers.

The volunteers deliver the beds to families and assemble them inside their homes. Every child receives a new mattress, sheets, pillows, blankets, and a comforter.

“Literally, when we walk out, that child could crawl in and go to sleep,” Dan Kohl said. “Once you put a bed together for a family, and the mother comes upstairs to see the new linens and the beautiful bed, they just weep,” Nancy Kohl said.

For the Kohls, the issue goes beyond having a piece of furniture.

They say social workers have told them about children falling asleep at their desks because they are not getting enough rest at home. Some share mattresses with siblings or parents.

“Sleeping now is a superpower for all of us,” Nancy Kohl said. “It’s so important.”

Sara and her sons, Phoenix and Maddox, were the first family to receive beds from the new Cherokee County chapter.

“It’s impossible to achieve a deep sleep with several other people in the bed with you, particularly small children,” she said.

Buying two new beds, mattresses, and bedding presented a financial challenge. Sara also has health issues that limit her mobility, making assembling the beds herself difficult.

For Sara, the change can be summed up in one word: relief.

“It’s hard to explain the feeling of relief knowing that your child has a safe and comfortable place to sleep,” she said.

For the volunteers who spent a rainy Saturday turning lumber into beds, that is ultimately the point. After the saws and sanders go quiet, somewhere in Cherokee County, another child gets a good night’s sleep.

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 Anna McAllister

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    DEERFIELD BEACH, Florida (WFOR) — For Munchy Su, opening up his own restaurant is a dream come true.

“I started in 1991, right after high school — and I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid,” said Su.

Munchy’s Pizza is a family-owned mom-and-pop shop in Deerfield Beach that’s known for its creative, over-the-top pizza and wing creations.

Last month, the shop reached tens of thousands of people through social media posts, claiming it would not use artificial intelligence (AI).

The TikTok post has more than 25,000 likes and has nearly 110,000 views, with many people commenting about the shop’s take on AI.

Su says a few years ago, Munchy’s original Instagram page, with more than 30,000 followers, was hacked by an AI profile.

“We spent thousands and thousands of dollars promoting the account. We tried to get in contact with Meta for three months. Every time they would answer, it was AI. No human ever got back to us,” said Su.

Su believes AI jeopardizes jobs, and many people online agree with him. But one local business expert says the contrary.

“At the macro level, we expect more jobs to be created by AI,” said Paul Pavlou, Dean of the University of Miami Business School.

Pavlou says industries like finance, the medical field, and hospitality won’t see as great an impact with AI taking over jobs.

“Hospitality is probably one of the largest workforces that will probably not be affected tremendously by AI; at least in the foreseeable future, those are more manual jobs, so you need human beings to provide services. My prediction is that we probably won’t see major changes in the industries in Miami, but likely more jobs that will be created,” he said.

Pavlou says two major concerns with AI are the potential for systems to go rogue and for bad actors to utilize AI.

Ultimately, Pavlou says AI will become integrated into our everyday lives.

“I feel like I will never, as long as I’m alive, have a computer take over a human being’s job,” said Su.

According to the World Economic Forum, globally, there have been 1.3 million jobs created through AI integration. The consulting firm McKinsey & Company reports that an estimated 11 million people will need to switch occupations by 2035 due to AI.

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 Joan Murray, Manuel Bojorquez

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A 3-year-old girl is recovering at a South Florida hospital after she fell from the third floor of a Miami-Dade apartment building, and it isn’t the first time an incident like this has occurred at the same complex in recent months, according to officials.

The incident took place at an apartment building on Northeast 18th Avenue in North Miami, and neighbors say they believe that bushes under a window may have broken her fall.

“I was on my phone, heard a noise and I saw her on the floor,” neighbor Jean Dory said.

He said he was outside the apartment complex just steps away from where the girl fell and ran to help.

“I picked her up because she fell on the sidewalk,” Dory said. “So, I grabbed her, put her on the grass and rushed to the hospital.”

In radio transmissions, a paramedic can be heard telling dispatchers that the child was alert and oriented as she was being rushed to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.

This is the second such incident that has taken place at the same apartment complex.

In April, a young boy fell from a window at an adjacent apartment building.

He was left with lung damage and a broken femur.

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.