Author: CNN

KTVT

By Dawn White

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    FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — The street name “White Settlement Road” has been debated for years in Fort Worth.

On Tuesday, the Fort Worth City Council approved a name change with a 9-2 vote for a one-mile section of the road to be renamed Westside Drive. The change will affect the stretch between University Drive and North Henderson Street.

David Martinez, who is of Apache descent, spoke at the meeting.

“I post on the Northside Facebook page, which has over 50,000 members. I asked them, and not one Native American was for changing the name,” Martinez said. “If you take away the name, it does erase history.”

Flipstone Vintage & Thrift co-owner Dancing Heart Iglesias also opposed the change.

“It was almost like a culture shock that a Native American business would even be on this road,” Iglesias said.

Iglesias, a member of the Lakota tribe, opened the store with her sister on the section of White Settlement Road that will be renamed.

“I think that the street name does provoke a lot of people to ask questions, which I think is a good thing,” she said.

Tarrant County College history instructor Adam Guerrero said the history of White Settlement dates back more than 180 years.

“They are referring to White individuals who are settling amongst Natives at the time,” Guerrero said.

General Edward Tarrant, for whom Tarrant County is named, commanded the Texas militia to attack Native Americans living in seven Indigenous villages beginning in 1841, according to Guerrero.

“This is an extermination,” Guerrero said. “There’s violence that’s enacted against them later as they further push west, so Indigenous populations here, they only had the option of they could stay and assimilate or those who resisted or didn’t want to go into reservations, then they would face the military.”

The name change comes at the request of the developer of the 37-acre Westside Village, a proposed $1.7 billion mixed-use project. Larkspur Capital, the developer, will pay nearly $26,000 to change the street signs.

“They’re not paying the businesses that are having to change all of their stationery and having to update all of their information,” Iglesias said.

Iglesias said she wishes the City Council had asked for input from the Indigenous community on what to rename the road.

“There’s a way to do it that would have created a lot of unity and kind of rebuilt some of those bridges, which Fort Worth has never done,” she said.

The city will begin changing street signs next Tuesday, Oct. 28. The process is expected to take about four weeks.

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KDKA

By Ricky Sayer

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    NORTH BRADDOCK, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — A 15-year-old boy is being hailed a hero after he jumped into action to help a neighbor during a house fire on Thursday in North Braddock.

Xaiveyon McMillan Taylor had just stepped off his school bus on North Avenue when he heard a woman screaming that her house had caught fire. The woman, a longtime school crossing guard in her 80s, is known by neighbors as “Ms. Evelyn.”

“She is everybody’s family, she’s everybody’s grandmother,” said Tallula Thompson, the teen’s mother and the caretaker for Ms. Evelyn’s granddaughter.

She explained that her son ran inside the home to help the woman.

“He’s autistic. He’s very intelligent, but he’s never experienced nothing like this before. So, he tried to put it out, and when he couldn’t, he pulled her out of the house,” Thompson said.

She explained Evelyn, who multiple people say has dementia, had gone back inside the home despite the fire. That’s where the 15-year-old boy jumped into action.

“When I got to the kitchen, I saw the engulfing flames. They were small, and I was like, Oh my God,” he said. “I had to grab her by the hand and had to pull her to get out of the house.”

She re-entered the home multiple times, according to Thompson, who also helped get Evelyn out while her son called 911. The teen described being a bit scared during the ordeal, but he said he felt he had to help.

“Evelyn threw her arms around him and thanked him so graciously for saving her,” neighbor Tracy Musilek said. “Xaiveyon is our hero.”

Asked if he feels like a hero, the 15-year-old said he does because he was helping another person.

The fire itself grew quickly once crews arrived. The home was a total loss, but Evelyn was OK.

“I’m very proud of what he’s done,” Thompson said of her son. “Of course, I am, because who knows, if she didn’t call him up there, she would probably still be in there trying to do it herself, and we might have lost her.”

North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee said he’s working to make sure Evelyn, a borough employee, has clothes and a place to stay. He’s also looking to see if the borough can recognize the teen boy’s actions.

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WCBS

By Jesse Zanger, Nick Caloway

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    SADDLE RIVER, New Jersey (WCBS) — A man was attacked by a rabid coyote in Saddle River, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Police said it happened while victim Mike Vincent was working in his yard in the area of Oak Road. He was knocked to the ground and bitten repeatedly, and had to fight his way to safety.

There have been at least four coyote attacks in Bergen County in recent weeks, in Saddle River and Woodcliff Lake.

Vincent said was out trimming trees when the coyote came up behind him.

“I just kind of turned around and went ‘Oh God.’ As I turned around, the rope got wrapped up between him and me. He tried to bite me again and I just hit him. I punched him,” Vincent said.

The brawl didn’t last long, as Vincent managed to beat the animal back.

“It’s only 40 or 50 pounds, so you think you can take care of it. But it’s got teeth and it’s coming at you,” Vincent said.

Saddle River police quickly responded. They found the visibly sick coyote along tree line and euthanized it. The animal later tested positive for rabies, police said.

Vincent made a quick trip to the hospital for treatment, but will have the scars to prove he survived a clash with a coyote.

“I got bit there and I got bit there,” he said, showing his wounds. “[There is] no time to be scared. You have to take care of business.”

Back in September, two people were attacked by coyotes in Saddle River. The coyote in one of those instances also tested positive for rabies.

On Monday afternoon, a woman in Woodcliff Lake was attacked in the backyard of a home while out with the family dog. She was bitten on the back and leg and was treated for her injuries. That attack was caught on surveillance video.

“They’re probably one of the most skittish species that we work with,” said Nancy Warner of Last Resort Wildlife Refuge in West Milford.

Warner is currently nursing a coyote, named Halo, back to health after it was hit by a car. She said most coyotes will run away from humans.

“If it doesn’t, that would indicate that there’s something not quite normal about it. In that case, I would say you should get either inside of a vehicle or inside your house and call the local authorities,” Warner said.

Woodcliff Lake police Capt. Chad Malloy offered some tips on how to keep most coyotes a safe distance away.

“If you live near a wooded area, that’s when you’ve got to be more aware of your surroundings, because obviously they lurk in heavily forested areas. Keep pet food inside, don’t leave it outside, your garbage cans locked. Clear any kind of heavy brush that’s in the area, because they like to hide in that. And bird feeders that knock off seeds attract small animals, which attract coyotes,” Malloy said.

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WCBS

By Naveen Dhaliwal

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A hospital security guard on Long Island is fighting for his life after police say he was brutally attacked by a patient.

Gardy Coriolan, 62, was trying to subdue an unruly patient while working an overnight shift at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre last week, police say.

“I was told that he was hit in the chest and in the face multiple times,” wife Sonya Coriolan said. “And he has remained unconscious ever since.”

The victim’s wife and family are holding onto their faith. They say Gardy Coriolan has been in law enforcement for over 40 years, retiring from the city’s Department of Correction and working at the Uniondale School District.

They say he had expressed concerns about low staffing at Mercy Hospital.

“It’s unacceptable for three officers to be on on a midnight tour when we are dealing with psych patients, when we’re dealing with the amount of individuals that are coming through the emergency room,” Sonya Coriolan said.

In a statement, Mercy Hospital said:

“On October 15, an incident occurred in the Emergency Department at Mercy Hospital involving a patient. Our security team responded quickly and de-escalated the situation. A short time later, one of our security officers experienced a medical emergency. At the time of the incident, the security team was fully staffed and worked together to subdue the patient. We remain focused on ensuring the well-being and safety of everyone in our Emergency Department.”

The Coriolan family isn’t buying it, however.

“Disappointment, anger that he’s in that condition. He doesn’t deserve to be like that,” Sonya Coriolan said.

Police say Eduard Lopez, 28, is now charged with assault.

The Coriolan family says that’s not enough and they want stiffer penalties.

“That he is not only arrested for a simple assault, this is attempted murder. And I would like to see those charges upgraded,” Sonya Coriolan said.

For now, the focus is on Gardy Coriolan, who spent his entire life protecting others and who now needs the saving, as his family prays to get him home alive.

“I’m just hoping he just gets up or wakes up or, I’m just praying for a miracle,” daughter Melanie Adams said.

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WJZ

By Mike Hellgren

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    MARYLAND (WJZ) — A software error caused 293 former state workers to receive twice their buyout payments, WJZ Investigates has learned.

Maryland officials are advising those who received the excess funds not to touch the extra money in their accounts, which will be taken back automatically.

The payments will be taken out of the accounts over the next several weeks, and the state promises to put the correct amounts into the accounts by November 19.

Maryland officials said they notified those impacted by email and by phone.

Maryland formally eliminated more than 500 positions in state government on Wednesday, most of them from a voluntary buyout program. The move helps Maryland’s struggling budget.

The state’s spending board approved the cuts without question during its meeting on Wednesday.

Gov. Wes Moore authorized the buyouts for 332 employees. Almost 900 workers applied for the Voluntary Separation Program.

Approximately 170 positions that were already vacant are also being eliminated to save the state tens of millions of dollars.

“None of these choices is easy,” Gov. Moore said at the Board of Public Works meeting. “I do want to ensure the public, including all of our public servants, that we will continue to protect our people.”

The position eliminations are expected to save the state $10.5 million during fiscal year 2026 and $22 million in general funds during fiscal year 2027.

The glitch in the Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) was revealed this week. WJZ Investigates found the state mistakenly double-paid 293 of those workers, and they are now working to take the money back.

That includes $40,000, instead of the agreed-upon $20,000 lump sum, plus double the $300 for each year of service.

One of those workers who asked to remain anonymous is outraged at how it was handled.

“It’s sad for our government,” she said. “It’s sad for our state. It’s sad for the employees.”

In an email she received, the state blamed a “software error” and asked those who received the buyout payments to “please retain these funds. The entire amount (correct payment and overpayment) you received will be automatically debited from your account within the next 2 weeks. A new, correct payment will be transmitted to you on November 19th. Apologies for the inconvenience this may cause… .”

“I’m not giving them permission to go to my account and take out money,” the former worker told WJZ Investigates. “Yes, I know it’s not my money, but let’s talk about it. Don’t just send me an email and say, ‘Don’t touch any of that money. We’re taking it back sometime in two weeks when we decide.'”

She continued, “I was alarmed, scared, frustrated, and to think that they can now just go back into my account, really without my authorization, and take the money.”

In a statement to WJZ, Senior Advisor and Communications Director David Turner said once the overpayments went out, there was nothing they could immediately do.

“On October 20, the Department of Budget and Management discovered a file error that resulted in double payments to 293 VSP participants,” Turner wrote. “As the electronic payment process for all state employees was already in progress, there would have been considerable risk in modifying the payment file. Therefore, the state paid all state employees on schedule—providing notice to VSP participants that, due to a software error, the funds they received will be recalled and the correct amount reissued.”

Turner warned that Maryland will take action to get the overpayments back.

“If overpayments are not returned in full, the state may pursue recoupment via employee leave balance payouts, standard collection procedures, or, in the worst cases, tax refund intercepts to recover the funds,” Turner said.

The former worker who discovered the problem said it has shaken her trust in the state government.

“I didn’t go to you and say, ‘Hey, buy me out to fix your deficit.’ You offered that to me,” she said. “We’re publicizing that we want to help federal employees with employment. Well, you’re not paying the employees who have dedicated themselves to you already. I would’ve rather them just not give me anything and to say, ‘Hey, there’s a glitch, you’ll get paid in two weeks.'”

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KPIX

By Sharon Chin

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    OAKLAND, California (KPIX) — A retired stockbroker is giving some elementary school students in Oakland a foundation in finance to break the cycle of poverty.

“They’re getting a foundation, a foundation and exposure for finance,” Val Chapman said.

The retired stockbroker wanted to help break the cycle of poverty among at-risk children. So, she founded Financial Literacy for Kid$ in 2020.

“They’re learning about managing their own money, saving for college, building their own businesses, and they’re having fun at it,” said Chapman,

She teaches four classes a week at Franklin Elementary School in Oakland. Fourth and fifth-graders like Maurice Young manage their own simulated portfolios and share their moneymakers.

“Trump Media,” said the fifth grader. “‘Because he’s going up $2.”

They’re also learning diversification. And, like fifth grader Praise Tamang, the right time to buy.

“I like to buy them while they’re down,” Tamang said. “I’ve made $200 in equity so far.”

Student Anuhea Lopez understands that if she starts young, she can grow a nice nest egg.

“You could have more money and live a better life,” said the 5th grader.

Teacher Benita Yeager said Chapman’s lessons are turning a profit in student learning.

“They’re broadening their horizons, and expanding their minds, and they really love it, which is the best part of it all,” Yeager said.

It’s evident Chapman loves it too.

“You can see the joy,” Yeager said. “This is her passion. This is what she wants to do.”

On this day, students pitched new product ideas to a guest speaker from ELF Beauty in Oakland. It’s the entrepreneurial arm of Financial Literacy for Kid$.

Students build their own startups and compete in Tiger Tank, their school’s version of Shark Tank. They pitch their products like homemade soap and jewelry.

“We have students who’ve hired other classmates to work with them. And they’re earning 30 to 40 dollars a week,” Chapman said. “That’s pretty impressive, and that also helps them build their math skills and research skills.

Some of the students have won regional prizes in the National Stock Market Game, where they manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio.

Financial Literacy for Kid$ is fiscally sponsored by the Oakland Public Education Fund. Chapman is seeking more corporate partnerships and grants, so she can bring the literacy lessons to all of the 4th and 5th graders in Oakland’s public schools.

She also teaches a weeklong tuition-based summer program on financial literacy. Chapman is seeing early returns on her investment, students are opening savings accounts, and there’s a ripple effect at home.

“Not only are students learning more about investing, but they’re also talking to their parents and families about saving and investing as well,” Chapman beamed.

So, for opening doors of economic opportunity through Financial Literacy for Kid$, this week’s CBS News Bay Area Icon Award goes to Val Chapman.

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