Author: CNN Newsource

By Jamal Goss

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — The Atlanta Dream will play one of the biggest games in franchise history Thursday afternoon, but the unusual start time is raising questions about whether arena scheduling has kept pace with the growing popularity of women’s basketball.

Game 6 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries tips off at 12:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena. The Dream trail the best-of-seven series 3-2 and must win to force a decisive Game 7 in California on Saturday.

Despite the midday start, the Dream announced Wednesday that the game is sold out. According to the team, more than 10,000 tickets were sold within the first 90 minutes after tickets became available Monday.

The sellout comes amid controversy over a scheduling conflict with the Atlanta Hawks, who host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. Thursday at the same arena.

Game 6 was originally scheduled for 8 p.m. at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, where the Dream have played most of their home games since 2021. That facility seats approximately 3,500 fans, compared with about 17,000 at State Farm Arena.

Moving the game downtown allows thousands more fans to attend, but it also means playing during the workday, potentially creating challenges for fans with jobs or school commitments.

In an open letter to fans, Dream ownership said it raised concerns with the WNBA about potential scheduling conflicts two months ago, when the league finalized its postseason schedule.

The ownership group said those concerns did not receive the attention they deserved, although it thanked the Hawks and arena officials for making adjustments to accommodate the Dream’s championship run.

For one Georgia Tech expert, the controversy highlights an issue that extends beyond Thursday’s game.

Dr. Mary McDonald, Georgia Tech’s Homer C. Rice Chair of Sport and Society, told CBS News Atlanta that the scheduling challenges reflect a longstanding imbalance in how men’s and women’s professional sports are treated.

“However, we still see this legacy of prioritizing men and men’s interests,” McDonald said.

She believes the issue is particularly significant because of the Dream’s history at the downtown arena.

The team played at what was then Philips Arena from 2008 through 2016 before temporarily relocating to Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion during renovations. The Dream returned to State Farm Arena in 2019 before eventually making Gateway Center Arena their primary home.

McDonald said that history raises broader questions about how cities and public authorities negotiate agreements involving professional sports venues.

She believes future arena agreements should consider the needs of multiple teams, including women’s professional franchises, rather than treating their scheduling requirements as secondary.

But another expert sees the controversy less as a failure by any one organization and more as a sign of how quickly women’s basketball is growing.

Dr. Mike Lewis, a sports business professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, told CBS News Atlanta that the popularity of women’s basketball is creating challenges for leagues and organizations accustomed to operating under older business models.

“I don’t view this as really anything where any party is to blame,” Lewis said. “I think it’s just the world is moving so quickly and there’s so much hype and attention that the organizations are really struggling to keep up.”

Lewis said the challenge is adapting operations and scheduling to growing demand while making games accessible to fans.

That demand is already influencing the Dream’s future.

Earlier this month, the franchise announced a multiyear agreement to play all its home games at State Farm Arena beginning with the 2027 season. The move will significantly expand seating capacity and give the team a larger stage in downtown Atlanta.

However, questions remain about how scheduling conflicts will be handled when the Dream become full-time tenants.

CBS News Atlanta has contacted the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority, the public authority responsible for the arena, seeking clarification on whether the new agreement includes provisions addressing scheduling conflicts, particularly during the WNBA playoffs.

For now, the focus returns to the court, where the Dream will attempt to extend their championship hopes in front of a sold-out crowd.

Fans attending Thursday’s game are encouraged to wear blue. The Dream plans to provide blue T-shirts, with rally towels also expected for the first 10,000 fans.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. State Farm Arena recommends having mobile tickets ready before arrival and reviewing parking and bag policies in advance.

For fans unable to attend, Game 6 will air nationally on USA Network and stream on Peacock.

A victory would send the Dream to Game 7 on Saturday, Oct. 31, while a loss would end their season one win short of a deciding game for the WNBA championship.

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 Noel Brennan

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    BRAIDWOOD, Illinois (WBBM) — A teenager in the far southwest suburbs has been putting in the miles for a good cause.

A short run is the least he can give to recognize people who’ve given everything.

A mile-long run down on Main Street in Braidwood, Illinois, won’t set any records, but for 17-year-old Zach Pruss, every step jogs a memory of why he runs and writes.

“I would say in terms of connecting with the family, this is probably the hardest part,” he said.

From his kitchen table, he puts himself in the shoes of a family member grieving the loss of a first responder — writing letters by hand and from the heart.

He’s written 124 letters and performed 124 runs, all supporting a nonprofit called Running 4 Heroes.

“We carry a flag, whether it be red line, blue line, grey line, green line, K9 flags and we carry them one mile, and the one mile is our honorary run and dedication to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.”

The organization has donated over $1 million in first responder grants. Zach had been running and raising money for two and a half years.

He calls it a team effort with the support from his hometown police officers and firefighters.

“This small, beautiful, little rural community has one of 14 runners across the country. That’s pretty neat,” said Braidwood Police Chief Eric Allen.

“It’s extremely heartwarming because I feel like first responders in general, especially police, have been so demonized over the last recent history,” said firefighter and Zach’s father, Ron Pruss.

Zach says that, out of all of the different things that someone can do to honor first responders, putting his body on the line is just one more way to show support for them.

Kids like Zach can run for the nonprofit until they turn 17 — meaning his 125th run in Braidwood will be his last.

It’s the first time he’s had support on the ground and up in the air, with a flyover courtesy of local pilots.

First responders have Zach’s back as they always have since before he could walk, let alone run.

“If I was going to say one thing today, it was just how proud I am of Zachary,” Ron said. “I consider him to be, you know, my hero.”

One mile never held so much meaning for Zach. A run measured not in distance or by time — but in the weight of a hero’s sacrifice.

Zach plans to be a youth advisor with Running 4 Heroes to help mentor new runners. He aspires to be a commercial pilot one day.

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 Burke

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Football excitement was brought to Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, with Baltimore Ravens alumni visiting to celebrate cancer survivors and their medical teams with a special tailgate party.

It was part of the NFL’s Crucial Catch campaign, which highlights the importance of early detection. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“It’s important for people to take care of their health,” said breast cancer survivor Nicole McFadden. “To check with yourself, with your body, to know what’s normal, what’s not normal. And to advocate, self-advocate, with your doctors.”

McFadden says she was only 34 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, earlier than when doctors usually start testing for it. She found the lump herself.

“I just went in just because it felt different,” said McFadden, urging people to go get checked out if anything feels amiss.

The Ravens alumni weren’t alone in their visit. Cheerleaders and the pep band helped bring the party to patients who can’t attend games because of their ongoing treatment.

There was also classic tailgating food and a photo booth to take pictures with former players like WJZ analyst Qadry Ismail, whose mother had a bout with breast cancer.

“It is important for me to recognize that hey, if we can make someone’s life a little easier, just for a brief moment, while they’re going through their trials, then it’s well worth it,” Ismail said.

Stuart Levine, the Senior Vice President of Medstar Health, says this is their second year hosting.

“It means everything to the community when you’re going through something like a cancer diagnosis, especially through treatment, having that little bit of hope, having those things to look forward to, to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” Levine said.

Levine added that the Ravens are influential to Medstar Health’s patients and the Baltimore community.

“Having them come out here to partner with us just to give a little bit of cheer, a little bit something to smile for, to smile at, it just means the world to them,” Levine said.

Ismail shared the sentiment, wanting to give patients and staff some hope and fun.

“We got Poe here, we got the cheerleaders, we got the band,” Ismail said. “So give them an opportunity to take their mind off the treatment and sit back and enjoy themselves for a bit. Get some great food and have a good interaction with one another.”

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 Dennis Valera

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    MOUNT AIRY, Maryland (WJZ) — A Mount Airy, Maryland family claims they are being harassed by a neighbor who lodged numerous dog barking complaints against them.

The Davis family said this has been going on for nearly a year, and it has evolved into an ongoing legal battle.

The family argued they needed a guard dog to protect their home, but in court documents, their neighbor contends the dog’s barking has been too much to handle.

A guard dog’s bark Jennifer and Steven Davis moved to Mount Airy in 2022 for the space.

“Where we lived before, it was a townhouse. The driveway was about as long as [our] table, and then you were in the street,” Steven said.

They also wanted to become self-reliant, starting their own orchard and a poultry operation in their backyard. To ensure their animals and children can stay safe, they got their dog, Suki, last summer.

“If you want to do free-range, you have to have a livestock guard dog,” Jennifer said.

The family had Suki trained, and they also put up new signs warning passersby she would bark.

However, in December, and for the next few months, Howard County Animal Control posted numerous citations on the family’s home. They all charged Jennifer with disturbing the public peace, because of Suki’s barking.

“I was confused and angry,” Steven recalled. “We’re not the only people to have dogs in this neighborhood, and dogs bark all the time. There are a lot more that bark more than ours did.”

The citations were made off of complaints by Eileen Stewart, one of the Davis family’s neighbors.

Stewart did not accept an interview request from CBS News Baltimore, but in one of her affidavits, she claimed Suki was “observed barking day and night.” Her complaints also had a detailed log of all of the times she claimed she heard Suki barking.

All complaints to Howard County Animal Control need to include evidence, according to a county spokesperson. Animal Control doesn’t need to investigate before citing someone, but if it’s contested, the Animal Matters Hearing Board listens to the case.

Going to court Jennifer decided to contest the citations when she saw the video evidence that Stewart had submitted.

In one of the videos Jennifer shared with CBS News Baltimore, Stewart was filming Suki barking in the Davis family’s front yard behind their fence. It appears Stewart was filming from the yard directly across the street.

“Filming our dog, our guard dog, barking at her,” Jennifer said. “That was her evidence of our dog barking excessively.”

The Davis family has since found Suki a new home, but they’re also arguing the state and county’s Right-to-Farm laws should have protected Suki’s barking.

Jennifer has a trial scheduled for two of the citations in January. She was found guilty for one of them earlier this year – which is something she’s also trying to overturn – and one of her citations has been dropped.

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 WRAL Staff

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    North Carolina (WRAL) — North Carolina State University said it is looking into reports of hazing at the university’s chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

“NC State University does not tolerate hazing. The safety and well-being of our students is paramount,” said an NC State spokesperson. “Fraternities are expected to provide a member experience that aligns with the University’s policies. The University takes this expectation seriously and encourages the reporting of any concerns.”

NC State’s police department is also conducting a separate criminal investigation but is unable to comment on that status.

According to NC State’s web page on fraternities and sororities, Sigma Nu was placed under an interim suspension. It is unclear whether the fraternity was already under an interim suspension or was placed under one as a result of the school’s investigation into the hazing allegations.

NC State’s spokesperson declined to comment on the scope of the criminal investigation.

WRAL reached out to Sigma Nu’s national chapter, which sent the following statement:

Sigma Nu Fraternity was founded in 1869 in direct opposition to hazing. Sigma Nu Fraternity prohibits hazing. Hazing is the antithesis of the Fraternity’s mission to develop ethical leaders inspired by the Fraternity’s principles of Love, Honor, and Truth. Recently, the Fraternity received information from North Carolina State University alleging the occurrence of hazing related to the Beta Tau Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity at the University. Both the Fraternity and University have suspended the activities of Beta Tau Chapter pending completion of an investigation of these allegations. Sigma Nu Fraternity will continue to cooperate with North Carolina State University in these matters. Any collegiate chapter or member of Sigma Nu Fraternity found responsible for hazing is held accountable in accordance with the Fraternity’s disciplinary procedures. Sigma Nu Fraternity national chapter on hazing claims at NC State chapter

WRAL looked into the Daily Crime and Fire Log, which NC State University Campus Police use to provide brief descriptions of campus crimes. In the crime log, WRAL News saw an anonymous report from Oct. 14 about reports of “hazing and use of date rape drugs by an unspecified fraternity.”

WRAL News asked the university if the report in the crime log was connected to the current investigation at Sigma Nu. A spokesperson told WRAL over the phone that they are unable to comment further 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 Matteo Iadonisi

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    SICKLERVILLE, New Jersey (WPVI) — An assist and a goal, from sister to sister. A scoop and a tackle, from sister to sister.

Win or lose, it all comes in pairs for the field hockey team at Timber Creek Regional High School, which is loaded with 5 sets of siblings.

Many of the girls grew up together off the field and their families continue to spend time with each other. They have fond memories from camping trips, bonfires, pasta dinners and more.

They also spend time fundraising together, often trying to double dip for donations from the same family members.

One of the five sets of sisters also has a cousin on the team.

With 10 players and a goalie active at a time, it’s possible that each player has a relative on the field.

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 6abc Digital Staff, Caroline Goggin

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    WEST GOSHEN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A young boy was rescued Tuesday evening after falling into a pipe outside a sanitation business in Chester County.

The incident happened around 5:20 p.m. as the three-year-old boy was playing in a yard on the property of a sanitation business along Snyder Avenue in West Goshen Township.

“The kids were outside playing when the child fell into the pipe,” Dave March, the public information officer for the West Chester Fire Department, said. “His brother, who witnessed the incident, ran and told his mother, who called 911.”

March said the small child fell into an access pipe to a septic tank, which was about 12 to 14 inches wide. The boy was about four to five feet deep, partially stuck in sewage, and holding on to some sort of rope until emergency crews arrived.

Lt. Michael Cotter, of the West Goshen Police Department, said, “It was a coordinated effort. Everyone went in. Everyone knew what job they had to do. And they were able to do this and get it done very quickly to get this young child out.”

Chopper 6 was over the scene as emergency crews responded and worked to reach the child, who officials said was in the pipe for about 25 minutes.

Authorities said the boy was successfully rescued, wheeled away in an ambulance, and taken to a local hospital.

“He was crying. He was scared, but he was alert,” March explained. “Didn’t appear to have major injuries or any injuries at all.”

Officials said this was simply an accident.

According to Lt. Cotter, this situation is something both police and fire crews train for. He said that training went a long way on Tuesday evening to make sure the child was alright.

“Any incident involving a child is difficult for first responders, but you go into a mode when you get there. You know what you need to do,” Lt. Cotter said. “From what I could see when I got here, everyone that was here working did a phenomenal job.”

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.