Author: CNN Newsource

By Monique John

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Girls across metro Atlanta are lacing up their running shoes and building confidence, friendships and self-esteem through a program designed to empower young girls.

Kennedy Barnes and Lillian Peters, both from Buckhead, are participants in Girls on the Run, a national organization that uses physical activity to help girls develop healthy habits and positive self-worth. One of the program’s signature activities is a 5K run, which encourages participants to set goals and support one another along the way.

Kennedy Barnes and Lillian Peters get ready to run the annual Girls on the Run 5K race. Barnes says the program has helped her improve her fitness while boosting her confidence on and off the track.

“I feel like I grow my endurance and I feel like I’m very good, like a good runner right now, and it’s helping with soccer,” Barnes said.

For Peters, the biggest impact has been the sense of belonging she found through the program.

“I made a lot of friends quickly, and I felt everybody, like, in the community of Girls on the Run was very kind and welcoming,” Peters said.

Since its founding in 1996, Girls on the Run has worked with more than 2.5 million girls nationwide. The organization offers programs for girls in third through eighth grade in Georgia and across the United States, focusing on physical activity, teamwork and building confidence that lasts beyond the finish line.

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 Eva Andersen, Bill Seiders

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    HAMMONTON, New Jersey (KYW) — In Hammonton, residents describe the town as a “tight-knit community.” It’s a sentiment repeated across shops, diners and other small businesses.

“It’s peaceful,” said Adriane Swenson, a vendor at The Shoppes on Bellevue.

“Everybody knows each other,” said Lisa Cunningham, another vendor.

Right now, those words carry extra weight. As Hammontonians get ready to ring in the new year, they’re reflecting on the tragedy that struck the community just days ago, when two helicopters collided midair near Hammonton on Sunday, killing both pilots. One man died at the scene, while the other was transported to a hospital and later died from his injuries. Authorities say the two men were friends. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

“When something like this happens, the whole town takes it to heart,” said Leeann Barnhart, a waitress at the Silver Coin Diner. “It doesn’t happen often around here.”

Now, more than ever, community members say they’re looking forward to an annual New Year’s Eve tradition: the blueberry ball drop.

The illuminated blueberry, a longtime symbol of the town’s identity, will be lowered at midnight outside Town Hall as part of a celebration that begins earlier in the evening with live music and fireworks. Organizers say the event is expected to draw residents together after a difficult week for the South Jersey community.

“It’ll be a nice, happy event for everybody — that’s the plan,” said Ty Wilson, executive director of Main Street Hammonton. “As bright as it becomes, it’s a way to show people there’s hope and things to look forward to. What we do as one, we do together.”

Tuesday night, crews tested the oversized illuminated blueberry. The structure is outfitted with more than 500 lights, about 50 feet of LED rope lighting and decorative leaves at the top, according to Main Street Hammonton.

For Barnhart, who brings her grandchildren to the blueberry drop each year, the tradition feels especially meaningful this time.

“I think it’s going to bring everybody closer together,” she said. “Just knowing the two lives that were lost — it brings the community together tighter than it already is.”

Hammonton’s New Year’s Eve celebration begins at 10:30 p.m., with the blueberry drop scheduled for midnight, followed by fireworks.

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By Randy Wimbley

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    DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Michigan (WXYZ) — A 16-year-old boy remains in intensive care at Corewell Health Hospital in Dearborn after being struck by a vehicle while helping a stranded motorist on Christmas Eve in Dearborn Heights.

Alexander Johnson was picking up eggs for his grandmother around 5:30 p.m. when he stopped to help jumpstart another driver’s car at the Van Born and John Daly intersection. Police say Johnson was connecting cables to the disabled vehicle when a suspect driver rear-ended them, pinning the teenager between his car and the vehicle he was helping.

“He’s saying I just wanted to stop and help. I’m never going to stop and help ever again. Look what happened, but we always remind him you can’t stop doing good things for people just because this happened,” said Whitney Johnson, Alexander’s mother.

The crash left Alexander with his leg broken in two places and no feeling from his knee down on his right leg. He has already undergone four surgeries and faces a fifth procedure soon. His recovery could take months or years.

“I honestly don’t know how this could not be a case of distracted driving. My other son, my oldest boy, was on the scene. There were no skid marks on the road or anything like that. It doesn’t even look like he attempted to stop,” William Johnson said.

The Dearborn Heights Police Department says there’s no suspicion that alcohol was a factor in the crash. Investigators have sent the case to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for review and a charging decision.

The Johnson family expressed hope that the suspect driver will take responsibility for the incident.

“I hope he gets wind of this and that person truly feels bad and truly has remorse for what he’s done. Maybe he’ll step up and tell the truth,” William Johnson said.

Despite his injuries, Alexander has been apologizing to his family about the timing of the accident.

“He was even like, I ruined Christmas and he keeps apologizing to everybody. I’m like, what are you apologizing for? We’re having Christmas the second he comes home. Tree is still up, presents are still there,” Whitney Johnson said.

The family says they’re grateful for the care Alexander is receiving at Corewell Health Hospital and the support from friends, family, and strangers during this difficult time. A GoFundMe fundraising campaign is underway to help cover medical bills.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Edward Smith

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A Louisville woman’s effort to keep her miniature horse, Bandit, at her home is gaining traction after a new ordinance required animals like him to be kept on at least one acre of land.

In the backyard of Susan Bruner’s home, 14-year-old Bandit doesn’t make much noise, aside from an occasional neigh, but he has become the center of community discussion in recent weeks.

Kaylah Morris, a local resident, said, “The kids they love they love to feed him apples. Like we have the fence. We just feed them apples. And stuff right over the fence and yeah, he’s he’s great.”

The miniature horse has been at the forefront of backlash against a recently passed Louisville Metro ordinance. While the ordinance primarily focused on micro-chipping pets, it also included requirements for horses and other animals, stating they must be kept on at least one acre of land.

For Bruner, this change was both major and unexpected.

“They came out the end of November. The first part of December. …And wellness check. Everything checked out. I said, yeah, because it always does and we’re up to code. Everything’s fine. And he said, actually, you’re not any more,” Bruner said.

Neighbors were equally disappointed to learn that Bandit might have to leave. One neighbor expressed, “I think it’s sad, honestly, because they’ve had them for a long time, and and I that’s the neighbor’s baby. And I would feel so bad if that happened to them.”

In response, neighbors started a petition, gathering more than 1,600 signatures, which caught the attention of the Metro Council.

Jennifer Chappell, one of the ordinance’s sponsors, released a statement Monday, expressing her support for Bandit and recommending that Bandit and other affected animals be grandfathered in.

“I want to be clear that I support Bandit and his owner, and I appreciate the compassion this community has shown in keeping Bandit at home,” Chappell said in a statement. “After speaking with Metro Animal Services and the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, I learned ponies and miniature horses were included in this ordinance because they were inadvertently omitted from earlier animal control language. This was simply meant to add clarification, not to target a specific animal or community member. Metro Animal Services will be recommending Bandit be grandfathered in, and I have initiated the process to add that grandfathering language to all animals affected in the legislation that was passed in October.”

Bruner said Bandit is an important piece of her life.

“He’s my baby. He calms me when I get nervous and stressed. I go out on the porch and he comes up and he just. He calms me,” Bruner 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.