Author: CNN Newsource

By Melea VanOstrand

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — At one Indianapolis Public Schools facility, creativity is on the menu.

An employee at James Whitcomb Riley School 43 is inspiring students to see art in unexpected places. Inside the lunchroom, cafeteria worker Anika Evans is serving up more than food. When she’s not preparing meals, she’s sketching and painting, often using students as her inspiration. For Evans, it’s about showing students that creativity doesn’t need a classroom, it just needs heart.

She says she paints portraits of students so they can love themselves and be reminded of how talented they are. “Art is in food when you’re making your plates; art is in dance; art is basically everything. When you’re doing your homework, it’s a way that they set up their paper, that’s art.”

She’ll ask a student during their 30-minute lunch if she can take their picture. Then, she’ll finish their pictures during her breaks.

According to Evans, teachers say students have started to see their other subjects — math and science, for example — through a more artistic lens.

Some days students even skip recess to stay with Evans and paint. “I want them to love themselves, that’s why I encourage them to show their teeth when they smile. I don’t want them to be self conscious about anything. I want them to be free in creativity.”

Although James Whitcomb Riley School is a performing arts school and has an art class, Evans says, her paintings and sketches encourage kids to think outside of the box and not have to worry about structured learning.

Outside of the classroom, Evans paints and sells her work. She says she wouldn’t be where she is today without the students letting her practice. “You learn from the kids. You think you’ll be the only one teaching, but they can teach you, too.”

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

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By Duaa Israr

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    WAUWATOSA, Wisconsin (WDJT) — At Wauwatosa’s Firefly Grove Park, a troll statue named Mama Rosa stands at 24 feet tall. Over the weekend, a smaller version of her came to life.

Inside the Lund home, there is a motto you must live by.

“Do something ridiculous, you totally have enough time, you just have to do something and go for it,” said Elliot Lund.

Halloween seemed to be the perfect time to do just that.

“I’ve told my kids I’m an undercover police officer for the last three years and just go in a flannel,” said Lund.

So, Lund got to work, taking an iconic piece of Wauwatosa and bringing her to life.

Mama Rosa the troll, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, stands as a symbol of sustainability — built from trees and recycled scraps.

“I love the community, I love craftsmanship, like this just kind of brought all of that together,” Lund said.

Lund decided to do the same — building his with items from Goodwill, trees, and even sentimental reminders.

“A lot of sticks from our yard,” said Lund. “An apple tree in our backyard died and this is one of the last pieces we have of it, so the eyebrows are actually really special to me.”

It was accurate down to the smallest details.

“Soon after she was installed, some hornets put an earring in her ear, so we’ve got the wasp nest as well,” said Lund.

Eighty hours later, Lund’s Mama Rosa was ready to hit the town.

“As soon as the paint went on and I stood back, it was like oh, this was so worth it,” said Lund.

For Lund, it’s a labor of love and a reminder that you’re never too old to do something fun.

“To hear people just like start laughing and then to realize I could kind of dance in it, and like it looked ridiculous,” said Lund. “It just felt like a great celebration of Wauwatosa and our city.”

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By Alys Martinez

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    ALTADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — After losing nearly everything in the Eaton Fire in January, an Altadena family is rebuilding their business and their lives bit by bit.

The White-Chavez family, who own and operate the mobile petting zoo Experience Fable, had to corral dozens of their farm animals as quickly as they could when the devastating fire broke out on Jan. 7.

“We were able to get every single one, every single chicken, every duck, the fish, the goats — everybody,” said Mia White. “When we left, there was no power, it was dark and the wind was crazy.”

She says that even though they’re beginning to recover, after both their home and farm burned to the ground, things just aren’t the same.

“It’s hard because this used to be idyllic. Now it’s burned out, there’s a lot to do,” White said. “Out of chaos comes opportunity, and I think a lot of us feel that way.”

Over the last several months, the family has gone back and forth from San Diego, with their animals finding refuge in various places across Southern California. White says that keeping their business running was the only thing that kept them going.

“It’s therapeutic, and having that whole job to care for this menagerie has been a gift,” White said.

White’s 8-year-old daughter, Shylo, says that her animals are like family.

“To be separated, it didn’t feel that nice, but then after when we put them here, it was nice, and I could hang out with them and play with them,” Shylo Chavez said.

White says that as they continue to rebuild, along with the rest of Altadena, they’re looking for a location where they can let friends and neighbors come to spend time with their animals.

“That’s the next step, where folks that are close by can come to us on a regular basis,” she said.

While they continue working through the tragedy, White says that caring for her herd has been a blessing in disguise.

“I don’t know what it is about them, but they all have different personalities and they interact with humans in a different way,” she said. “It’s calming, and it reminds you of what’s important — the basic things.”

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By Sarah Horbacewicz

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    LAFAYETTE, Colorado (KCNC) — Last week, one mom in Lafayette believed she heard a stranger’s voice coming from her baby monitor, and now she’s hoping other families will take a second look at their security.

Mom, Jane asked not to share her last name due to privacy concerns. She says she’s been using a Nanit baby monitor for the last 19 months, but heard a strange noise last week.

Jane said she typically checks in on her son’s baby monitor on her phone, which is what she was doing last week.

“I was waking up, he was waking up. I could hear him babbling over my phone,” Jane said, “And then all of a sudden, I just heard this really weird sound.”

Jane says she ran in and unplugged the camera immediately as she believed that her Wi-Fi-enabled monitor may have been hacked.

“It’s been devastating. It has been really hard to just figure out what steps to take, how to protect ourselves,” Jane said.

She reached out to the company Nanit to report the incident. A spokesperson for the company sent CBS Colorado a statement in part:

“We are aware of this reported incident and have been in touch with the customer directly. Our product team conducted an initial assessment and found no indication of compromise. However, out of an abundance of caution, our team is performing a deeper investigation.”

As Nanit continues to look into the claim, Jane says she still feels uneasy, adding, “I think that the words are clear as day. The voice is clear. It doesn’t sound like some audio problem. It sounds like somebody was speaking to my child,” Jane said.

MSU Denver Computer Science Professor Steve Beaty explained that home security cameras, like baby monitors that are connected to Wi-Fi, have varying levels of security against hackers.

“This is among our most sensitive data, if it’s not the most sensitive data, and so we have to be very, very careful around this,” Beaty said, “There’s no question at all that local signals that are not connected to the internet are going to be safer.”

Beaty added that he believes monitor hacks like this are somewhat rare, but anything you can access online and out of the house has the potential to be viewed by others as well, no matter what brand the device is.

“Oftentimes, we will say that security and convenience are at odds with each other. And so, you know, it’d be really nice to never lock our doors, because it would be very convenient to get in and out of our homes, but we lock them to increase the security,” Beaty said.

Beaty added that monitors over a radio frequency can still be hacked into locally, but not as far-reaching. He also recommended people have strong passwords, keep device software updated, and consider investing financially in the quality of the product, as it could indicate a level of more secure software.

Meanwhile, Jane says she is now using a closed-circuit baby monitor and is hoping to feel more secure.

“I don’t know what happened. No one knows what happened. I’m not getting explanations. But if there’s any risk to any of our children, obviously, I want other people to be aware,” Jane said.

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By Marvin Hurst

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    FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — Five months after being shot nine times inside her Fort Worth home, 72-year-old Venora Landers stood before a congregation at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, leaning on a podium and giving glory to God for her recovery.

“And if I was going to give a subject, my subject would be ‘The victim survives.’ Amen. Hallelujah. Glory to your name, God!” Landers said.

Landers was shot at her Shasta Trail home on May 16. Her account was first shared by her nephew, Reverend Roderick Smith, a week after the attack. At the time, her family was too fearful to reveal her name or image.

“Because people get shot one time and don’t survive,” Landers said. “And I got shot nine times.”

The mother of four and grandmother of six decided to publicly share her story even as Fort Worth police continue to search for the gunmen.

Landers said she had told a friend not to come over that night to help inflate balloons for a release planned the next morning. A widow since 2018, she had lived in her home for 18 years, and one of her grandsons had recently moved in with her.

She said it was after 2 a.m. when she suddenly heard gunfire.

“And all of a sudden, I just heard boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” Landers said.

The former Fort Worth ISD bus driver said she realized she had been shot but didn’t initially feel pain.

“I wasn’t in pain because I didn’t even feel it,” she said. “I mean, if I didn’t look down and see that I was shot, I wouldn’t have knew I was shot.”

Landers said her grandson panicked but managed to call 911. She also contacted a neighbor who is a firefighter. She recalled seeing a bullet lodged in her leg.

“It (the wounds) started here. Like right up here on my thigh. And then on down, even to my foot,” she said. “And when the bullet that hit my thigh, my thigh just swole like this. And it got so big that it kind of went to the other side. And I couldn’t move.”

Despite her injuries, Landers said she was alert enough to speak with paramedics and police detectives before losing consciousness. Her next memory was waking up in the ICU.

Her daughter, Tina Menefee, recalled racing to the hospital that night.

“She did have a total of five surgeries and probably going to have to have another,” Menefee said. “So her journey is not over yet.”

Landers, one of twelve siblings, was surrounded by nearly all her surviving brothers and sisters at Saturday’s appreciation service. During her hospital stay, they visited her regularly. She remembered waking up with a tube in her throat and mouthing to her daughter to pray — unaware of her condition.

“And I know nobody would want to go through that journey,” Menefee said. “But I think that she even appreciates what she’s had to endure, because this made her stronger, made her a stronger person even on today.”

Landers has since moved out of the home she cherished for nearly two decades due to medical and security concerns. Fort Worth police said they are pursuing a lead in the case.

Going back, she said, brings back too many memories. One moment that stands out occurred two months before the shooting. In her faith, Landers is considered a prophetess: someone who hears from God.

She said that night in March, she heard her name and the phrase “Legion of angels,” which she took as a message of divine protection.

“So when you hear legions of angels, what does that mean to you? Protection,” she said.

By May, she had survived a barrage of bullets from what she described as an AK-style weapon. She doesn’t know who targeted her or why, but she believes her survival is proof of divine purpose.

“What did he say? He won’t put no more on us than we can bear,” she said. “So hey, I trust him. I trust him with my life.”

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By Adam Harrington, Beth Godvik, Desiree Evans

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — A first grader returned to school on Chicago’s Southwest Side Tuesday for the first time after receiving a new heart.

Classmates and teachers at Peck Elementary School, 3826 W. 58th St., welcomed Joselin Nevarez to school Tuesday.

Everyone dressed in red for heart health, and Joselin received a big bunch of red heart balloons to celebrate her return. She jumped around with her class to celebrate, to the accompaniment of the classic 2014 song, “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors.

Joselin was born with one heart chamber. After years of treatment, she received a heart transplant this past summer.

Joselin was born with one heart chamber, and lived with hypoplastic heart syndrome until undergoing her transplant. Joselin’s family hopes to raise awareness and show support for other families going through major health issues.

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By Michael Guise

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A fan suffered life-threatening injuries when he fell from the stands at PPG Paints Arena during Monday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Public Safety said.

The man fell from the 200 level, hitting another person in the suite level below before falling to the 100 level, Pittsburgh Public Safety said in a post on Facebook. The man who fell was taken to a hospital in Pittsburgh with life-threatening injuries, officials said.

The fall happened during the first period on Monday, and play did not stop at any point. First responders were called to the arena around 7:15 p.m., officials said.

The person struck by the falling man was evaluated by first responders and declined to go to the hospital. In a statement, the Penguins said, in part, that the organization and OVG Management Group, which operates PPG Paints Arena, are “closely monitoring the situation. Our concerns remain with the individual and his family at this time.”

A photo from the area on Monday showed about 10 200-level seats roped off with yellow tape. A pane of glass in the front of the section is also missing. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fall. No additional information was released on Monday night.

“We saw a bunch of people scrambling over there … saw him taken away,” witness Devin Voop told KDKA. “Obviously, I hope he’s OK.”

The incident comes on the heels of a worker at Acrisure Stadium falling 50 feet from the stadium’s scoreboard on Saturday night. Authorities said the worker suffered severe injuries, mainly to his lower extremities, and was listed in critical condition.

Earlier this year, Kavan Markwood fell 21 feet from his seat onto the warning track at PNC Park during a Pittsburgh Pirates’ game against the Chicago Cubs. Doctors said he suffered several injuries, including to his skull, brain, spine, ribs and lungs. But at the time, they said he was recovering ahead of schedule, given the severity of his injuries.

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By Stephanie Stahl, Casey Kuhn

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    ROBBINSVILLE, New Jersey (KYW) — A new type of radiation therapy is showing promise in treating cancer in pets.

The new kind of treatment places radiation directly into cancerous tumors, so there’s limited damage to nearby tissue.

Anu is the Donnelly family’s beloved bulldog, who has the most common form of canine skin cancer. After surgery and medications, she recently had a new kind of radiation therapy.

“It’s like very concentrated and doesn’t go all over the place,” Terrie Donnelly, Anu’s owner, said. “It just sounded good.”

They went to NorthStar VETS in Robbinsville, New Jersey, for the isoPet treatment that uses something called radio-gel.

Veterinary oncologist Diana Sanchez said the gel contains a radioactive isotope that’s placed directly inside the treatment area to destroy cancerous tumors.

“The type of radiation, it’s a high-energy type of radiation, but it travels a very short distance,” Sanchez said. “It’s delivering the radiation in a way that you can make it safe for the surrounding tissue.”

Sanchez said it’s safer and less invasive than traditional external-beam radiation.

For the treatment, Anu first got some light sedation, and then the radioactive gel was injected directly into the cancer tumors.

Sanchez said it’s usually a one-time shot with the pet up and out, with limited side effects.

“To have the ability to have a medication that can be safe, and that can be easy, and that can be affordable and accessible for the owners, it’s amazing,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez said while it’s still a new treatment, early indications are promising.

Donnelly is hoping this will be Anu’s last, best treatment.

“We just love her,” she said. “She’s part of the family. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

The maker of radio-gel is working to get FDA approval to begin human trials, which they hope will eventually become a new targeted radiation option.

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By Jennifer McLogan

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    RIVERHEAD, Long Island (WCBS) — Birders are going cuckoo for a rare sight on Long Island. The common cuckoo bird has been spotted only four times in U.S. history in the lower 48 states, experts say. Now, it’s in Riverhead.

Hundreds of people have traveled from dozens of states, hoping for a glimpse of the bird that is native to Europe and was blown off course.

“We started a crazy viral birder insanity,” said Roy William Gardner, the eagle-eyed golfer who first saw the cuckoo.

Gardner said he was in a golfcart moving between holes when he spotted “an unusual bird going post to post.” He texted photos of the bird to his nephew, an ornithologist from Cornell and now a bird biologist at UCLA.

“It’s pretty amazing that my uncle, who’s a non-birder, can send a text message across the country,” said nephew Christopher Sayers.

Within minutes, the bird species was identified by UCLA and Cornell.

“He said, ‘what you have there is called a lifer.’ He goes, ‘people go their whole lifetime and not see this,'” Gardner said.

Soon, bird lovers started arriving by ferry, plane and car.

“This is an amazing find,” one person said.

“He lives in Europe and he winters in Africa, so for him to be this far off course,” another marveled.

Was the cuckoo bird possibly blown into New York on the wings of the recent nor’easter?

Farms and golf courses have been allowing the visitors onto their properties to spot the cuckoo. The local Riverhead Times reported 225 sightings in two days.

“It does have a classic cuckoo song, but this is going to be a migrating individual,” Sayers explained.

It’s too young to be vocalizing, but it’s showing off its plumage, gray and white body and long tail.

“If you want to go see it, you’ve gotta go find it!” said Gardner.

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