Author: CNN Newsource

By Keith BieryGolick

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    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — Spencer Lamb is talking too much.

He says it himself. And so he starts coloring.

The 25-year-old draws a picture with markers and a pack of construction paper he bought for $2.99 this morning. Then, he opens a four-pack of crayons — the kind kids often get at restaurants.

“When we reach a certain age, we lose that childish wonder,” Lamb said. “And I hope the film expresses that.”

Lamb’s new short film is a comedy about self-serious artists trying to make it into a stuffy art world using crayons and markers. In a way, it’s about his pursuit to make a movie at 25 years old.

“It has sometimes been so humiliating,” Lamb said. “But the first step to being good at something is sucking at it.”

But if you ask the people who run Cincinnati’s independent film festival, he does not suck at filmmaking. “Coloring” is nominated for two short film awards and screens at Cindependent on Sept. 17.

When asked about the film, Dahlia Kressler covers her mouth and laughs. She’s the festival’s associate director and tells me she watched 40 short films to help decide what should make the festival.

“Oh my God, I loved that one,” Kressler said. “If we don’t program this, I’m going to be genuinely upset.”

In Eden Park, Lamb takes three crudely-drawn pictures to hand out to strangers. He tells me it’s how he made much of the film.

“Hello,” Lamb said. “Are either of you interested in art?”

He shows the pictures to two people sitting on a bench.

“Did some kids draw them?”

“No,” Lamb said. “Me and this gentleman did.”

Lamb’s film screens on Sept. 17 at 11a.m. in Memorial Hall.

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 abc15.com staff

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A Peoria couple is facing negligent homicide and child abuse charges after a 5-year-old boy was found unresponsive inside a vehicle at a residence and later pronounced dead at a hospital.

At around 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Peoria Police responded to a home near 69th Avenue and Mariposa Grande Lane after receiving reports of a child found unresponsive inside a vehicle.

Officials say family members removed the child from the vehicle and began administering CPR.

The boy was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation determined the family arrived at home from church at about 1 p.m. At around 3:45 p.m. the family realized the child was missing and began searching for him. His mother located him unresponsive in the family vehicle and called 911.

“It appears that it was a miscommunication between family members of who was actually going to get the child out of the car,” Kennedy said.

911 was not called until 2:45 that afternoon. The boy was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Officials announced that the child’s parents, Mihail Sabo and Anca Sabo, were arrested and booked on charges of negligent homicide and child abuse.

The judge set a $150,000 secured appearance bond for each parent, less than the $250,000 cash-only bond the state had requested.

Both parents were ordered to have no contact with each other and can only see their four surviving children under supervision by the Department of Child Safety or an appropriate responsible adult.

The couple has been married for 19 years and has four other children ranging in age from 9 to 18. The defense attorney told the court the family has no prior criminal history and no prior DCS involvement.

The judge did not restrict either parent from returning to their home, but the no-contact order between the two effectively complicates that.

Officer Kennedy said Arizona’s extreme heat makes tragedies like this one a danger every family should take seriously, and offered a simple reminder.

“We like to say look before you lock,” Kennedy said. “Always ensure and have a clear communication on who is taking responsibility for that child. Don’t just assume that your spouse or another family member may be taking that child out. It takes 2 seconds to take another look and ensure and go through the car one more time just to make sure no pets, elderly members, or children are left in that car. It could save a life.”

Both Mihail and Anca Sabo are due back in Maricopa County Superior Court for a status conference on September 21st at 8:30 a.m., followed by a preliminary hearing on September 23rd at 8:30 a.m.

The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information is available at this time.

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 Kayla Moeller

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — For thousands of people who bought tickets to Sacramento’s Sol Blume R&B music festival, the wait for a refund has stretched into years.

The festival, which features R&B, hip-hop and soul artists, last took place in 2023. Its planned 2024 return was postponed after winter storms damaged Sacramento’s Discovery Park.

Organizers told ticket holders they could either request a refund or keep their tickets for the festival’s eventual return, with some ticket holders promised upgrades.

But that return never happened.

Now, ticket holders say communication from the festival has largely disappeared.

Alaisha Eden is one of them. She says she spent about $900 on tickets and has kept a folder filled with screenshots documenting her attempts to get her money back.

“At this point I’ve kinda just given up,” Eden said. “I’ve reached out to the BBB and whoever I could, and nothing.”

CBS News Sacramento found little recent activity from the festival. Sol Blume’s Instagram account remains online, but its last post was the April 2024 announcement postponing the festival.

Eden says she’s repeatedly tried to get the attention of organizers through that post.

“I’ve been commenting on that IG post for 60 weeks,” she said.

The festival’s official website is no longer operating.

“Stop treating people like they don’t exist,” Eden said. “You guys made a buck.”

Another former ticket holder, Malia Larbi, spoke with CBS News Sacramento about the same issue in 2024.

“To have no communication or any social media updates for months is kinda concerning,” Larbi said at the time.

Two years later, Eden says the frustration hasn’t changed.

Sol Blume’s financial troubles have also become the subject of litigation.

A lawsuit filed by former ticketing partner Lyte Inc. alleges Sol Blume and its owner owe at least $1.5 million. Lyte has since gone out of business.

Eden said she also contacted her bank, but was told too much time had passed and that she needed to work through the ticket vendor.

“I explained to them there was no merchant, there wasn’t anybody, nobody to speak to,” Eden said. “And they told us there wasn’t anything they could do.”

For Eden, the frustration is about more than the money. She and her roommate originally bought their Sol Blume tickets to celebrate their birthdays.

Eden said she attended the festival in 2022 and wanted to experience it again.

Her birthday is coming up again.

“It’s on Sunday,” she said. “There’s not a lot of things going on in Sacramento that are that big, and it was a three-day event. It was a great time.”

CBS News Sacramento has reached out to Sol Blume organizers repeatedly over the past two years for comment about the postponements, ticket refunds and the lack of communication. The organizers have not responded.

For consumers who believe they are owed money by a business, the California Attorney General’s Office says complaints can be filed against businesses.

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 Rina Nakano

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    PASADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Pasadena family’s dog reunited with his rescuers, who pulled him out of a house fire that nearly killed him last week.

Owner Fernando said he was out of the country when his wife and kids left their 6-year-old sheltie Milo home alone while they ran some errands. They said a delivery person who happened to be passing by not only saw the smoke but also heard their dog barking and called 911.

Moments later, Ring cameras captured Arcadia firefighters breaking the front-side window. Seconds later, Sierra Madre firefighter Jessica Johnson went into the home. It was the second-year firefighter’s first active house fire call.

“When I got on scene, I just listened to my captain’s orders and went to work,” Johnson said.

Even as the Pasadena Fire Department arrived, no one heard any barking. Using a thermal imaging camera, Johnson navigated around the heavy smoke. She found Milo after reentering the home three times.

“He was in the living room, right behind this window, just under the table,” Johnson said. “I just happened to catch a glimpse of him, went over, grabbed him and pulled him out.”

Milo had suffered major smoke inhalation. Johnson handed the unconscious dog to the team standing by with an animal oxygen mask.

By that time, Fernando’s wife was rushing home, praying to see her dog again.

“Please God, make sure Milo is doing OK,” Leti recalled saying. “Because if not, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Five minutes passed before Milo suddenly rolled over. While he was dirty and dusty, the family was greatful their beloved Milo was alive.

“I just couldn’t believe he’d just gone from the verge of life and death to basically his normal self,” son Fernando Jr. said.

On Monday morning, Milo reunited with his rescuers, each of whom received a custom smiling Milo shirt. The family will be out of their home for at least a few months, but they’re grateful to be whole after a veterinarian said Milo will fully recover.

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 Najahe Sherman

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — A South Florida doctor who came to the U.S. from Nigeria as a child is now giving back to the community that welcomed her.

For Dr. Oluwadamilola Ajiboye, caring for Hialeah’s seniors is more than medicine, it’s a full-circle moment.

Ajiboye was 11 when she moved from Nigeria to Miami. She found a home in Hialeah and a culture that felt familiar.

“I think Hialeah actually turned out to be the best place to transition to the U.S because a lot of the culture I experienced was so similar to the culture that I grew up in, in Nigeria,” Ajiboye said. “The love of family, the closeness of family, the sort of very welcoming expressive culture.”

That sense of family stayed with her.

After medical school in North Carolina and residency at the University of Miami, she returned to Hialeah, this time as a doctor.

Today, she’s medical director at Florida Pace Centers, caring for seniors who remind her of the people who first made her feel at home.

“It feels like things have come full circle with this experience for me, my culture very much reveres and appreciates the elderly, and so to be able to come back and take care of the seniors that basically welcomed me as a child, and new to the United States, it really feels like a blessing to be able to do that,” Ajiboye said.

She says understanding her patients’ culture helps her better understand their needs.

Her patients say they feel that connection.

“She’s great. She’s a great doctor, she’s very smiling with us, gives you a sense of security, she’s marvelous,” said patient Miriam Baquet.

For Ajiboye, it’s a chance to return the welcome she received, one patient at a time.

Florida Pace Centers provides medical care and support services to help seniors remain in their communities rather than move into nursing homes.

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 Georgia Dawkins

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    POWDER SPRINGS, Georgia (WUPA) — A Powder Springs mother is marking a major milestone after breast cancer: She has lost 50 pounds and is training to run her first 5K.

Talya Johnson-Parker is preparing for the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure on Oct. 17. For her, the fitness journey is about more than reaching the finish line.

“I have a 5K coming up, and it’s my goal to be able to run it,” Johnson-Parker said.

Her daily goal is to reach 10,000 steps. During workouts, she often keeps Beyoncé’s “Alien Superstar” on repeat.

Johnson-Parker said she remains mindful of the possibility that her cancer could return.

“Cancer is such — they all have their own personality,” she said. “And so I learned that with mine, it’s the kind that wants to come back.”

She is documenting her progress and 50-pound weight loss on social media. Johnson-Parker said sharing her experience could help other people facing cancer feel less alone.

“I just want to be more open about the journey because there’s someone else going through it quietly,” she said. “There’s someone who doesn’t have the boldness or the bravery to say, ‘This is what I’m going through.’ And maybe the little bit that I do share makes a world of difference for them to feel seen and for them to feel like they’re not alone.”

Painted Pink for Breast Cancer selected Johnson-Parker as a speaker for its annual survivor brunch on Oct. 3.

Tayler James, a board member with Painted Pink, said members of the organization have supported Johnson-Parker throughout her experience.

“Talya is one of our close friends for many of our board members,” James said. “We have had the opportunity to be with her throughout her entire journey, from finding the lump in her breast through each stage of her journey.”

James said emotional support remains important beyond medical treatment.

“We provide the emotional support because the journey doesn’t stop at cancer,” James said.

Johnson-Parker will put her training to the test during the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure at Lenox Square on Oct. 17.

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 Christopher DeRose

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    WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — There’s a debate over when a new police dog can join the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office.

Makro, a highly trained 2 1/2-year-old German shepherd mix, was donated to the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office and his handler, Deputy Joshua Porter, last spring.

Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert says that “Mak” will primarily be part of the team that serves arrest warrants throughout the county.

“The benefit of the K-9 is if you indicate that someone is barricaded inside a house or hiding in a bedroom, which happens often, we’re going to send the K-9 in and, surprisingly, people give up,” Albert said. “Defendants give up, knowing what will happen if the K-9 comes in.”

Albert says that other than a small cost of around $2,000 to go toward Porter as Mak’s handler, all other costs are being taken care of by his department.

So he said he’s perplexed as to why, in over 100 days and 19 different meetings, a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, hasn’t come from the Westmoreland County commissioners to approve Mak for active duty.

“These dogs need to work and be trained, or they start to regress and we are at that point now, so I had to go public with this,” Albert said.

KDKA spoke with all three county commissioners on Monday, who all said they are in favor of law enforcement and Makro working for the sheriff’s office.

Commissioners Sean Kertes and Douglas Chew say that ultimately an MOU is coming, but bringing on a new police dog just takes time.

“I would not characterize this as Westmoreland County slow-walking anything through purposefully,” Chew said. “This is an important MOU. There are a few things required. A K-9 program has not been in effect at the sheriff’s office for many years and spinning this up is not an overnight job.”

“What it is, from our standpoint, is just getting it done properly and making sure that we have this set up right the first time, so that we don’t have grievance issues, we don’t have physical issues, we don’t have issues for the department,” Kertes said. “But we are not slow-playing or trying to create chaos of any means or necessity.”

Commissioner Ted Kopas shared the sentiments of his fellow commissioners but added that there are bigger issues in the county right now than this.

“This county would be much better served if the sheriff put forth this kind of effort to solve his overtime budget that’s hundreds of thousands of dollars over, a wasteful, costly lawsuit against the county to prevent GPS monitors in sheriff’s vehicles and in addition to the tens of thousands of unserved warrants,” Kopas said. “His efforts are really in the wrong place right now.”

Now again, while there is no official timeline on when Makro will be joining the sheriff’s department officially, the sheriff did say that Porter is still training Mak on his own time twice a week so that when he does come on board, he will be an effective officer.

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 Madeleine Wright

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    DELAWARE COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KYW) — For many families, apple picking is a fall tradition. But this year’s harvest is looking different at farms across the region after a late spring freeze damaged crops.

Linvilla Orchards in Middletown Township, Delaware County, said it lost about 90% of its apple crop after a freeze on April 20. The freeze also damaged the farm’s peaches and plums.

Norm Schultz, a farmer at Linvilla Orchards, said an unusually warm spring caused the trees to open their buds early, leaving the delicate blossoms vulnerable when temperatures dropped.

“It’s never happened in the 28 years I’ve been here where we lost this many crops at one night,” Schultz said.

Linvilla is still offering pick-your-own apples but has been forced to make adjustments because of the smaller crop.

The farm is offering smaller bags and plans to bring in fruit from other farms. That way, customers who cannot find enough apples in the orchard can still fill their bags.

“We’re just working around the challenges and trying to have a great fall experience for everyone,” Schultz said.

Linvilla is not the only farm dealing with the effects of the freeze.

Duffield’s Farm Market in Sewell, Gloucester County, New Jersey, said it lost about 70% of its apple crop. The farm expects its apple picking season to be shorter this year, but some varieties like Red Delicious and Golden Delicious are still available.

“It’s upsetting,” Tracy Duffield, an event coordinator at Duffield’s Farm Market, said. “We’re just thankful that we have what we have. We had to look elsewhere for apple cider because our grower has just enough to supply himself with cider, but fortunately, we found another source.”

The damage extends beyond individual farms.

Officials estimate the agricultural industry in Pennsylvania faces between $150 million and $200 million in economic losses because of the April freeze.

Pennsylvania is a major producer of specialty crops including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and strawberries.

In May, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro urged the federal government to expedite disaster assistance for farmers affected by the freeze, including faster damage assessments and crop insurance payments.

In August, Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced $10 million in grants were available to farmers whose crops were harmed by the April freeze.

In New Jersey, the freeze is estimated to have caused about $300 million in agricultural damage.

Farmers are already looking at ways to protect future crops from another deep freeze.

Schultz said Linvilla is exploring technology and other methods that could help protect blossoms when temperatures drop.

“Some people have flown helicopters over the fields during the frost, because a lot of times, there’s warm layer of air that you can push down to the orchard,” Schultz said. “We’re going to reach out to some helicopter operators and see if that’s a potential solution. I know one farmer who did it and had some success.”

There are also sprays designed to protect blossoms from freezing.

Despite the smaller crop, customers are still coming to Linvilla to enjoy apple picking.

“I’d heard a little about just the frost damage that had occurred,” David Hillmeyer from Malvern said. “I was able to actually fill a bag of apples, so it was successful.”

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.