Author: CNN Newsource

By Jenna DeAngelis

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — Did New York City leaders know about the 9/11 toxin dangers more than two decades ago?

The truth could lie in dozens of boxes allegedly containing undisclosed documents about Ground Zero toxins that were uncovered 24 years after the terror attacks.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association, which represents active and retired FDNY members, and its legal team held a news conference Monday in Lower Manhattan to demand answers from Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials about the 9/11 records.

Sixty-eight boxes containing “Ground Zero toxin records” were recently uncovered, according to the firefighters union.

“New York City firefighters demand to know who in New York City government hid those documents all the way back in the beginning and continue to keep those documents held all these years,” Andrew Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, said.

While union officials have not seen the documents, lawyers for the 9/11 Health Watch advocacy organization said they reviewed two dozen boxes last week.

Attorney Andrew Carboy said each box contains about 5,000 pages of records concerning the Department of Environmental Protection’s response in 2001.

“What was in them? Broadly speaking, two categories. Asbestos air testing in the immediate week following September 11, and chemical and metal contamination records of testing that was done in the days and weeks following the attacks,” Carboy said. “The type of risk assessment we have requested and should be getting, we have not seen yet.”

Carboy said the documents also include a City Law Department letter that reads, in part, “must be preserved to serve as evidence in the event future WTC-related legal actions are brought against the city.”

In July, the New York City Council took action to get the documents disclosed, which ultimately led to their release.

“It’s bittersweet because it took litigation, [Freedom of Information Law] requests, and it took the Department of Investigation through the efforts of [Councilmember] Gale Brewer to compel the city to find these documents,” attorney Thomas McManus said.

The legal team said its original request for documents was denied in 2023 and they were allegedly told by the Department of Environmental Protection that it did not have the documents.

“That totally underscores what a lie it was for DEP to have told us there were no records,” Carboy said.

The union leaders want all of the boxes of documents to be made available and are demanding to know why information was hidden.

“That wasn’t the only betrayal. Years later, we had to go down to Washington to fight for the World Trade Center Health Care Program. Had these documents been available then, it could have helped prove our case to get that lifesaving health care more available quickly. It would have been less of a fight. It would’ve also helped the doctors to help diagnose people had they had all the documents at the time,” Ansbro said.

Ansbro developed skin cancer years after responding to Ground Zero and lost his father, an NYPD member, to 9/11-related cancer.

“Throughout all the years of going down to Washington to try to get health care for sick first responders and civilians, this information could have helped,” he said.

“This is inexcusable,” said Michael Barasch, a 2-time cancer survivor and lawyer for the 9/11 community. “This should have been divulged to the public. We’re adults, we could handle it. We could have made our own decisions whether to go back to school, whether to go back to work, whether to go back to their homes.”

To date, more than 400 members of the New York City fire department have died due to 9/11-related illnesses.

A City Hall spokesperson said, in part, “Mayor Adams has been unwavering in his commitment to ensuring victims, their families, first responders, and survivors receive the care and services they deserve.”

“While we cannot comment on the specifics of pending legislation, the city has begun turning over documents to plaintiffs’ counsel,” the spokesperson added.

Carboy said the legal team filed to seek sworn testimony from DEP and other city officials in their push for answers for the thousands of people impacted. He said the team is still waiting to review the remaining boxes.

The union said it plans to continue pushing until all documents are made public.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — As winter approaches, virtual reality is being used to help train drivers to navigate dangerous weather, especially snow squalls.

At Hofstra University on New York’s Long Island, drivers are strapping on simulation goggles and grabbing the wheel to learn how to navigate treacherous whiteout conditions caused by the sudden burst of snow.

“Snow squalls are the most dangerous type of winter weather driving phenomenon,” said Jase Bernhardt, a Hofstra meteorology professor.

With a $100,000 grant from the National Safety Council, Bernhardt created the virtual reality driving simulator to help teach the public to just get off the road when there is an emergency snow squall alert.

“You can see the snowfall is rapidly escalating. The visibility is getting much lower. I can barely see ahead of me. So if there is a car ahead of me that’s stopped, I may not be able to stop in time,” Bernhardt said. “You’ll also notice there is a car going really fast. That’s kind of a bad peer pressure that there’s always someone in bad weather that keeps driving.”

The simulator is scientifically accurate to help create muscle memory.

Adalia Rezkie, a Hofstra student, wanted to learn how to drive in snowy weather and gave the simulator a try.

“It was a bit scary because you see the snow piling up and then you can’t really see what’s ahead,” Rezkie said.

Bernhardt, a trained meteorologist, believes virtual reality has a unique ability to teach people about dangerous weather.

“It can be a little horrifying for people because you’re driving along, at first it’s a very normal looking day … and with the VR, we kind of want to scare people a little bit. It’s kind of good that people are reacting scared, because real life is very scary and very dangerous,” the professor said.

AAA Northeast agrees the life-saving information is needed.

“I don’t think we’ve had a lot of snow in the last few years and we tend to forget these things, and there is a lot of aggressive, bad driving going on,” AAA’s Robert Sinclair said. “So the simulator is going to be excellent I think.”

“If you slow down, you can get rear-ended. If you pull over in the shoulder, that’s like the most dangerous thing,” Bernhardt said.

Bernhardt’s free virtual reality simulator has been downloaded thousands of times from the Meta store.

It has been out for about a month and is available in Spanish, along with a free web version.

A snow squall is a sudden, intense burst of snow that comes on quickly and does not last long – usually just 30 minutes to an hour. It’s often accompanied by strong winds, which can cause visibility to drop sharply, making it difficult to see and drive.

Unlike a regular snowstorm, which can go on for hours, a snow squall can happen in a flash. It’s especially dangerous because it could catch people off guard. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds can make roads slippery and create whiteout conditions.

A snow squall warning is typically issued when the squall is expected to hit within 30 minutes to an hour. If you’re in an area under a snow squall warning, it’s a good idea to be prepared for quick weather changes, slow down and avoid traveling if possible until the squall passes.

Justin Lewis contributed to this report.

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By Brian Unger

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — For many families, the holidays can bring a mix of joy and heartache — celebrations paired with painful reminders of those who are no longer there. For two Atlanta husbands, that feeling is deeply familiar. But instead of facing their grief alone, they’re turning it into purpose.

David McClain and Jamal Jones are best friends and podcast partners, bonded by a shared tragedy: the loss of their wives and the mothers of their children.

Jones’ wife, Janice, died in 2017 after a four-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer.

“It was devastating,” Jones said.

Five years later, McClain lost his wife, Nalani, to a rare uterine sarcoma.

“A rare uterine sarcoma cancer that — no testing for it, no therapy for it. She didn’t have a chance,” McClain said.

Nalani left behind two daughters, then aged 10 and 12. McClain says her final request still guides him.

“As Nalani was passing away in the hospital bed, she pulled in all her friends tight and said, take care of my girls,” he said.

Jones suddenly found himself parenting alone as well — raising children ages 8, 11 and 20.

“I was left as a single dad with, you know, three kids,” he said.

The two men met at a birthday party and quickly discovered they shared an experience few fully understand. That connection became the foundation of a profound friendship — and eventually, a podcast aimed at helping others navigate grief.

They call it “Getting Back Up.”

“We went through a couple iterations and discussions and tried getting a microphone in front of us once or twice to see how we liked it,” Jones said with a laugh. “Yeah, especially when you’re DIY’ing it.”

McClain agreed: “For sure.”

During a recent recording session in Atlanta, the pair sat down with actor Russell Hornsby, who opened up about losing someone close to him.

“The night before she passed…” Hornsby shared, later adding, “I know she’s in a better place. I know what that means now.”

Their conversations are raw, emotional, and honest — diving into topics many avoid: death, loneliness, sadness, and the long road of healing.

“It’s so common to us all,” McClain said. “I too am either dealing with that. Or I’ve gone through that.”

What they’ve learned, and what they hope listeners understand, is that you never truly “get over” loss. Instead, you learn to live with it — remembering who you loved, laughing through the pain, and finding meaning in the aftermath.

“This is how we’re using our ability to help people,” Jones said.

“It shows how strong you are to deal with grief and come to an understanding — okay, I’ve done this, I can do it again,” McClain added.

And with community, time, and support, they say one truth remains: You get back up.

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By Penny Kmitt

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — Businesses in Massachusetts are getting more creative to deal with the shortage of pennies.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury stopped minting pennies because making the one-cent coins became too expensive.

Theo Christo has been stashing away pennies at his breakfast restaurant, Theo’s Cozy Corner, in Boston’s North End for months. He hopes to give his customers exact change for as long as possible.

“I prefer to be cash-only, so I don’t have to deal with fees, credit card fees,” he told WBZ-TV.

But that’s getting harder. Businesses are struggling to make change.

“The restaurant industry is literally an industry of pennies,” said Stephen Clark of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.

He said businesses are now torn. Do they round up and risk frustrating customers or round down and lose money?

“Anytime you’re talking about profit margin or menu price, it comes down to pennies and how you’re actually making the difference between staying in business and going out of business. If you lose a lot of pennies, you’re going to feel the financial strain of that,” Clark said.

He added that Congress will need to decide how cash transactions should work without the penny, especially in states like Massachusetts, where businesses are required to accept cash payments.

“We need national guidelines to say, well, this is how we handle it,” he said.

Several national chains are doing away with the penny. McDonald’s told CBS News some of their restaurants now round cash payments to the nearest nickel.

That means a $1.22 order becomes $1.20, while a $1.23 order jumps to $1.25.

GoTo Foods, the parent company of popular brands like Cinnabon and Carvel, told CBS News it’s “recommending that franchisees round cash transactions in the guest’s favor.”

“With everything being so expensive these days, it’s really just growing more and more insignificant,” Mo, a visitor from Seattle, told WBZ about his stance on the penny. He’s noticed more cash-only spots in Boston than in other cities.

So would he pick up a penny on the sidewalk?

“I probably would for nostalgia’s sake, but not for the sake of saving that penny,” he said.

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By Kaicey Baylor

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    PARKVILLE, Maryland (WJZ) — A wooden community food pantry built by Girl Scouts in Parkville was stolen and quickly returned.

Neighbors behind the Parkville Community Fridge said the pantry, which sits by a community fridge, disappeared between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Kim Becker, the troop leader for Girl Scouts Troop 1159, said her troop built the wooden pantry on November 15.

It’s unclear who removed the wooden pantry.

Becker alerted the Bmore Community Fridge Network to help track down the missing pantry. Becker said she even started a donation fund, thinking she would have to replace it.

However, on Monday morning, she learned the pantry had been returned.

“I’m disappointed that someone took the pantry,” Becker said. “I think the silver lining is that now more people know about this pantry who need it. More people can come and donate because they weren’t aware.”

Becker is grateful that community members jumped into action.

“I really wanted to show the kids that there might be a bad actor in the community every once in a while, but people will step up, and neighbors will help neighbors if we just ask,” Becker said.

Becker said neighbors have already started to restock the pantry.

She said the roughly $700 raised will be used to build a new pantry. Those funds will also be used to stock the shelves, making sure the Parkville community has food ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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By John Lauritsen

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — For many veterans, experiencing a war together creates a special bond, but eight decades after World War II, two veterans are just starting to form their own.

For more than a century, 102-year-old Les Schrenk and 101-year-old Casey Bukowski didn’t know each other.

“I corresponded with so many of the POWs I was with and every one of them is gone for a good number of years now,” Schrenk said.

But a couple of weeks ago, Schrenk got a pleasant surprise. Even though he lives in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Bukowski lives near Buffalo, New York, friends of the veterans got to talking and realized the two had a lot in common.

“Actually, unbelievable. Because I had doubts about what would occur and how to approach this thing,” Bukowski said.

When Bukowski flew to Minnesota for Schrenk’s birthday, his gift was memories and a lot of coincidences. Both men realized they were staff sergeants during World War II. Both were gunners on B-17s and both their planes were shot down on the same day: Feb. 22, 1944.

“I lost my eye at that time and had a shrapnel wound and I was knocked out,” Bukowski said.

After bailing out with parachutes, the Germans captured Schrenk in Denmark and Bukowski in Germany. Then they ended up in the same prison camps at the same time.

“That’s amazing. We were practically shaking hands, and yet, we didn’t know each other,” Bukowski said.

They were subjected to the same brutal conditions, and Schrenk and Bukowski were forced into the infamous 86-day German death march, which many of their fellow soldiers didn’t survive.

“We all had very severe dysentery, fleas, lice, and bed bugs. And, of course, the cold,” Schrenk said.

“Actually, they told us that was the worst winter in many years. The coldest winter,” Bukowski said.

From the pains of war to the joy of liberation. The British freed Schrenk around the same time American soldiers liberated Bukowski.

“Finally, for us, the war was over, and we were able to think of going home,” Bukowski said.

Though they were likely just feet from each other in the prison camps and on the death march, it took 81 years to finally meet.

One more coincidence — in both their flight crew photos taken during the war, Schrenk and Bukowski are standing in the same spot: back row, second from left.

“We each brought our own memories back to each other,” Bukowski said. “We were together but didn’t even know it.”

“We are both quite mobile and can clearly remember what happened even 80-some years ago,” Schrenk said.

Schrenk and Bukowski met at the Air Force Museum in South St. Paul. They want to thank Schrenk’s friend, Mike Johnson, and Bukowski’s friend and fellow veteran, Jared Cummings, for connecting them. Next year, the group is planning a trip to Poland to visit the camp sites where Schrenk and Bukowski were held prisoner.

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By Kamilah Williams

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    PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (WTKR) — When Missy Waller moved into her new home in Portsmouth three months ago, she was still working to make it her own.

Still in need of a kitchen table, dressers, and more curtains for her windows.

With the holidays approaching and her son off to college, Waller said every dollar counts.

“I pay rent, lights, gas, water, trash, etc.,” she said, listing her $1,400 in monthly housing costs. “It all adds up.”

Then an unexpected gesture from her landlord, Travis Johnson, changed everything.

“He was like, ‘Come outside.’ And when I came outside, he said, ‘Y’all ain’t gotta bring rent for November and December,’ Waller recalled. “You mean literally you don’t have to pay anything? I just jumped for joy. It was a blessing to me because I’ve got a son who’s trying to go to Richard Bland, well, he’s at Richard Bland, accepted, and I’m trying to get him in the dorm. This was a big, huge blessing to help my son.”

For Waller, the financial reprieve was more than just about money. “It was a big relief,” she said. “It was like a book bag of bricks off my back. I just didn’t know what to do, and I’m very thankful.”

Johnson, a Portsmouth native, said his own history with housing insecurity informed his decision.

“I know what it’s like to have a housing crisis and instability when it comes to rent, because I myself have struggled in the past,” he said. “That’s what inspired me to give my tenants free rent for the holidays. The movement actually became bigger than just a moment; it became a national movement.”

Johnson has spent eight years as a landlord and now rents out 12 homes in Portsmouth.

He said he was “overjoyed and excited” to see tenants’ reactions.

“To see their excitement brought me excitement, because you never know when it can be you in a situation.”

For Waller, the landlord’s compassion was a reminder that kindness endures.

“It’s just a blessing. There’s somebody who cares when you think you’re down and out. That’s a blessing, especially for landlords that care. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah.”

Johnson said he isn’t stopping with just two families.

“We actually have six more homes to knock on the door and let them know they’re receiving free rent for the month of December,” he said.

He plans to expand the effort, launching the Homebridge Community Care Foundation to help single-parent households and families facing hardship with rent and mortgage payments.

“We’re in the process of creating a foundation that will focus on helping single-parent households with rent, mortgage, or whatever they need assistance with.”

Johnson also operates Homebridge Home Healthcare, providing in-home care across Hampton Roads.

“Whether you’re a client of ours, an employee of ours, or even if you’re not, we’re going to always pay it forward. That’s our motto,” he said.

The scope of Johnson’s giving has gained attention beyond the neighborhood. He said notable figures, including rappers, have reached out to support the movement.

“Everyone is proud of the movement. They are excited about the movement. They’re potentially talking about jumping on board,” he said.

As Johnson works to expand the program, Waller reflects on how the act of kindness ripples through the community.

“I just think it’s a wonderful thing,” she said. “Not only is it a relief off my back, but for somebody else in Portsmouth going through what I’m going through, they’re going to have relief off their back too. And I’m happy for them as well.”

For now, Waller said she has one more thing to top her gratitude list: “Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah.”

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By Joel Lopez

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPTV) — A West Palm Beach widow we first met two weeks ago now has a whole lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday.

After nearly a month of uncertainty caused by the government shutdown, the SNAP benefits she desperately needed to feed her three sons have finally landed in her account — and relief is unmistakable.

Anna Walker lost her husband two years ago and has been raising her three teenage sons on her own.

The deposit, nearly $1,000 in SNAP benefits, arrived overnight on Monday, ending weeks of worry about how she would afford holiday meals.

“When they ask me, ‘Hey, mom. I’m hungry.’ What am I supposed to say?” said Walker two weeks ago, not knowing how she was going to afford dinner for the holidays. “I wanted to create a meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

The reaction after the funds posted was immediate and emotional.

“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling calm, less stress, I felt like the whole world was on me, but that has been lifted,” said Walker. “Now, my kids are able to eat and stuff, it feels good.”

Her sons are already pitching in to prepare the family’s Thanksgiving dinner.

“My oldest, he loves to cook. He has this thing where he seasons meat a lot better than I do, so I’m going to have him do all the meat seasoning then I’ll do the rest,” said Walker.” He’s more of a baker; he loves making cupcakes and cake and brownies.”

For Walker, Thanksgiving will be both a meal and a moment of togetherness and faith.

“I’m just happy, it’s not because I got my food stamps back on, it’s just because everything is just going good,” said Walker. “I’m able to focus on what I need to do and continue to move forward for my goal of finishing school.”

She’s determined to push her family forward and noted she still has two years left in a criminal justice degree in order to accomplish her dream of becoming a crime scene tech.

“It’s one of those goals where you go where your heart desire. It’s one of those things I’ve been wanting to do since I was 14 and we’re making it happen,” said Walker. ” I have a lot to be thankful for, a lot, cause I could have been in a worse situation.”

Walker lives at The Lord’s Place family campus, where organizers said roughly 90% of residents rely on SNAP. Upwards of 40% of residents there remained without their payments at the time of the report. That’s why the nonprofit has ramped up food production and mobile distribution to fill gaps, while many families wait for benefits to clear.

“What message would you have for families here that are still waiting on the SNAP benefits?” asked Lopez.

“Just have faith, just like Anna has hers now, hopefully theirs will show up shortly,” said Kerline Aurelien.

She is the director of family services for The Lord’s Place, who said helping others has always been her passion.

“We want them to feel like they are home, and we want the children and the families to feel that,” said Aurelien.

That mission is matched by action: The Lord’s Place plans to serve a Thanksgiving meal on Tuesday and said it has enough funding to continue mobile food distribution through December.

They will reassess needs and budget to determine whether services can extend into the new year.

For Walker, the arrival of SNAP benefits means more than groceries. It restores a little calm, lets her focus on school, and gives her boys a chance to take part in a holiday tradition that bonds the family.

“I’m just happy and thankful for everyone that’s helped me get to where I’m at,” said Walker.

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