Author: CNN Newsource

By Cate Cauguiran

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    HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (WLS) — A suburban school teacher and her students are celebrating her new chance at life.

There was a warm welcome in Hoffman Estates into a new chapter of life – a chapter Katie Pappas was uncertain she would ever be able to write.

ABC7 Chicago first met Pappas six months ago. She learned she had gone into kidney failure for the second time after already having gone through a transplant surgery nearly a decade ago.

“They said, ‘With everything your body has been through… you’ve already had a transplant you don’t have seven years to wait. And you need to find a living donor,'” Pappas said.

On Wednesday, ABC7 was introduced to Katie 3.0.

After months grueling through dialysis, the beloved District U-46 teacher’s community desperately rallied for help. She got the call she’d been waiting for.

“[A] person who is a stranger to me and was deemed a wonderful candidate, just not for me, agreed to give their kidney to anyone so I would get one in return,” Pappas said.

The anonymous donor agreed to be part of a swap program to save her life and others. Last Thursday, on a red-eye flight from California, Pappas’ living donor kidney arrived, and so did her third chance at life.

On Wednesday, she celebrated her first week in her new life, surrounded by family, friends and current and former students

“I was crying when I first found that out, because I was just so happy that she gets a third chance on life,” former student Janice Poe said.

“Even when she had her hardest days, she always had a smile on her face,” Timber Trails Elementary School student Liana Kolovos said.

The Timber Trails Elementary School teacher also being celebrated for yet another contribution to her district: naming U-46’s newest school in Elgin.

Katie, with the help of her students, submitted the name Legacy Middle School just weeks before her transplant surgery.

“It’s an invitation for every kid that walks in the building to challenge themselves,” Pappas said. “What is your legacy going to be? What are you going to leave behind?”

Appropriate for the teacher who, already, through her fight to live has created a legacy herself, one she says she owes to the anonymous generosity of strangers.

“To everyone involved, thank you isn’t enough,” Pappas said. “And I plan on living the rest of my life like my donors watching, like all of them are watching. And I’m not going to let them down.”

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By Brian Unger

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    GREENVILLE, Georgia (WUPA) — In the Halloween season filled with houses pretending to be haunted, there’s one in Georgia that doesn’t have to pretend.

Just outside of Atlanta in Greenville, Georgia, there’s a house that’s haunted by history.

Other than the doorbell, you’d never know by the front of the house, or by its warm smiling owner, Mariea Gosdin, or the cozy entry and living room that once served as the home of the county sheriff.

But what’s in the back of the house, through the narrow hallways that gives it a unique … charm.

In the back is the decrepit Meriwether County Jail. Built in 1896, the jail hosted hundreds of prisoners until 1985, separated by gender and race.

“There were 32 beds for white men, right here,” Gosdin said. “This is where they used to keep the Black men. They only had eight beds for them.”

Some of those men died here, hanged in the jail’s tower, in front of a window for public viewing.

The original steel ring for the hangman’s noose, the trap door, and observation window are all relics of the house’s haunting past.

“The sheriff and the prisoner’s family would watch the hanging from that window right there,” Gosdin said.

Hanging was the legal method of execution in Georgia until 1924. It was mostly carried out by local sheriffs who rarely kept records of hte people who perished.

Added to the National Historic Register in 1973, the jail was almost torn down, until Gosdin bought it for just $5,000. She’s invested hundreds of thousands more to preserve it.

“This stuff was written on the walls,” she said, pointing to the scrawls of prisoners that she’s preserved.

One of those messages speaks of hope, “It’s always darkest just before dawn.”

Gosdin said the grandson of the man who wrote it visited the cell.

“I get [that] all the time,” she said.

It’s a past Gosdin wants maintained as a museum, despite family who’d like to see her move closer to them.

“Sometimes they love it when I invite them down for dinner,” she said, laughing.

It’s a reminder that history can haunt us, but also teach us, as long as there are people willing to keep it alive.

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By Neal Riley

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    NORWOOD, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Massachusetts man who has hit it big playing the lottery before is a winner once again, and he’s sharing the wealth with his son.

Eugene Girard bought eight identical Mass Cash tickets at Pam’s Market in Norwood, and matched all five numbers from the Oct. 24 midday drawing. Each winning ticket was worth $100,000 before taxes.

Girard claimed seven of the winning tickets for himself for a combined total of $700,000, and gave one $100,000 winner to his son, Matthew Girard.

Eugene Girard said he went with “sentimental numbers” that he plays on a regular basis. He plans to buy a car with the money, make home improvements and save. His son said he’s looking to buy a car and invest his money.

Mass Cash added a midday drawing in August. Each play cost $1, and players pick five numbers between 1 and 35. The odds of matching all five are 1 in 324,632.

Eugene Girard previously won a $1 million prize on a Billion Dollar Blockbuster scratch ticket in 2008.

There’s more than $1 billion up for grabs this week for Massachusetts lottery players.

Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot is up to $376 million, with an estimated cash prize of just under $180 million before taxes. One person in Braintree won a $50,000 prize from Monday’s drawing.

The Mega Millions rose to $754 million after nobody won the jackpot Tuesday night. The estimated cash prize is $352.8 million before taxes. There was a $40,000 winner in Revere from Tuesday’s drawing, and a $30,000 winner in Boston.

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By Scott Sutton

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    LAKE WORTH BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — Four dolphins stranded themselves near the Lake Worth Pier on Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC spokesperson Kelly Richmond said the agency received a call at about 5:30 a.m.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found four pantropical spotted dolphins on the beach.

Richmond said two of the dolphins were already dead, but the two others were rescued. The surviving dolphins were taken to SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation.

There were reports of a fifth dolphin that was briefly observed in the surf, but it was never relocated or recovered.

According to FWC, dolphins strand themselves for a reason, often due to illness or injury.

“It is important to never push stranded animals back into the water,” Richmond said in a statement.

If you see a stranded dolphin, contact trained and authorized responders at FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-3922).

“These responders can safely conduct a hands-on physical assessment, provide appropriate supportive care, and consider all feasible options in the best interest of the animal,” Richmond said.

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By Meghan Daniels

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    DAVISON, Michigan (WXYZ) — While miniature cattle may be small in stature, they’re making a significant impact on mental health across Genesee County.

From therapy sessions to community visits, the cows at Mini Mitten Acres are bringing comfort and calm to people of all ages. The cows are fluffy, friendly, and as therapeutic as they come.

“This wasn’t really the plan to become a business like this, but we’ve decided that sharing them is pretty cool and they get so much attention that people love coming out here,” said Micki Shirah, the owner of Mini Mitten Acres.

What started as a hobby for Shirah has transformed into a haven where people can come to relax, reconnect, and find peace.

“We just kind of teach them about the cows, some of the other animals that we have here on the farm, let them get in, love on them. The kids really like to brush them, put different bows in their hair,” Shirah said.

The simple act of touching and caring for an animal can have a powerful effect on the brain, according to healthcare experts like Dr. Christine Kivlen from Wayne State University’s Occupational Therapy program.

“It can trigger the release of oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone. And we know that that release can reduce stress and promote feelings of calm and connection,” Kivlen said.

The effects extend beyond science. Mercedes White, the director of hospice education, marketing, and outreach at Swan Hospice, says those benefits are easy to observe when these mini cows visit people in hospice and memory care facilities.

“We had a patient at one of the communities who actually started reminiscing about her past and living on a farm and just being able to take care of farm animals and things like that. So that brought that back to reality for her, and it was really nice to see,” White said. “Animals bring joy. You cuddle with them, it soothes you, it makes you feel like really just happy.”

Shirah says that’s what makes these cows so special – not just their size, but their spirit.

“We’re passionate about bringing them to the community,” Shirah said.

It’s proof that healing can come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes it wears a bow and says moo.

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

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By Sam Landstra

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    KENT COUNTY, Michigan (WXMI) — There’s an old saying about rain on your wedding day.

A West Michigan woman is scrambling to save hers after Hurricane Melissa, which has strewn death and widespread devastation on its path through the Caribbean, dashed her best laid plans for a destination wedding.

“You never think a hurricane is going to come on your wedding day,” said Katie Papke, a Grand Rapids Township resident. “Rain, maybe, but not a hurricane.”

This weekend, Papke and her fiance, Donnie Green, were set to fly out to Dream Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where they planned on saying their vows in a small, sandy ceremony. Papke had packed white flip-flops. Green was going to wear beach attire.

Two weeks prior to their departure, though, the couple’s wedding planner told them about a tropical storm picking up strength and speed in the Caribbean. On Tuesday, when Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica with Category 5 wind speeds, Papke called off the trip.

“A wedding ruined is definitely not comparable to what’s happening [in Jamaica],” Papke said. “Absolutely not.”

“My heart goes out to them and their families, their places of residence, their businesses,” she said.

Still, Papke and her fiance wanted to save the date (Monday, November 3), leaving them with less than a week to land a new venue and everything else that comes with saying, “I do.”

“November 3 is really significant to me,” Papke said. “I will be celebrating 25 years of sobriety and my fiance, Donnie, is really supportive of all of that.”

“So that’s why we want to keep the date instead of reschedule,” she said.

The same day the couple canceled their plans at the resort, Papke’s sister put up a Facebook post. She went looking for help and wound up finding a lot of willing people.

“I was so overwhelmed with the amount of responses from the Grand Rapids community,” Papke said.

Perhaps most notably, Frederick Meijer Gardens said on Wednesday it would be willing to accommodate the wedding, a relief for the rapidly (re)planning bride-to-be.

“Love will prevail. If there is a will, there’s a way, and we’ll make it happen,” Papke said.

To offer your services for the wedding of Katie Papke and Donnie Green, contact November3bride@gmail.com.

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By Fernanda Silva

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — On Friday, the Kansas City, Missouri, community is bringing some Halloween magic to a 3-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a rare and painful genetic condition.

Tucker Langford’s family is counting their blessings. They know exactly how precious time is, as doctors have told his mom, Chandler Langford, that the future is uncertain.

“They just told us to make memories,” Chandler said. “Because we don’t know what tomorrow could bring for us.”

His parents and grandparents put their careers on hold to spend as much time as possible with Tucker.

“We’re on limited time,” said his grandfather, Rick Langford.

Tucker was born on Christmas Eve with epidermolysis bullosa — a name as hard to pronounce as it is to live with.

“Any friction that he gets — putting on a shirt, if the shirt hits his head — will instantly cause a big blister and open wound,” Chandler said.

In addition to his skin condition, Tucker was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy on Sept. 12.

“The doctors said it could be weeks, it could be months. It just depends on how hard he’s fighting, and right now, he’s fighting like no other,” Chandler said.

He was sent home for hospice care on Oct. 6.

“It was hard for us to go through that, to see him that way,” Rick said.

To welcome him home, trucks, motorcycles, and even camels lined up in a parade for him. His mom says thousands of people showed up.

To lift spirits, his family is once again counting on the community.

“We’re trying to make it special for him,” Rick said. “We’re very blessed to be Kansas Citians.”

On Friday, they expect hundreds of people to stop by so Tucker can trick-or-treat without leaving home.

“We want them to see him, and him to see them,” Rick said.

“I don’t think I could tell anyone thank you enough,” Chandler said. “We’re making those memories, and the community coming together and supporting us is amazing.”

They say it will help Tucker in the long run.

“We’re going to try to get some video, and we want some things that he can watch to help relieve his pain while we work on him,” Rick said.

Bringing color to his life — when they need it the most.

The family says Tucker will be by their front door at 5801 NE 43rd Terrace, in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, starting at 5 p.m. Tucker will be protected from the cold.

They hope to do the same on Saturday if he’s feeling well enough.

“He’s happy. We’re happy,” Rick said.

After Tucker gets “all the candy he wants,” the family hopes to donate what’s left.

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By Victoria Balderrama

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    MATHIS, Texas (KRIS) — A neighborhood in Mathis is dealing with Africanized bees, commonly known as “killer bees,” raising concerns for residents and their pets.

Al Pacheco discovered a hive of aggressive Africanized bees in a tire near his home.

“We have a hive of bees that seem pretty aggressive,” Pacheco said.

According to Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Africanized bees have been in South Texas since the fall of 1990, spreading to 163 of the 254 counties in Texas. Research shows the Africanized bee is only slightly different from the honey bee, but the danger they pose is significant.

“They’re super dangerous. They can and they will hurt you, or they can and will kill you,” Rick Sanchez, a bee removal expert, said.

Rick Sanchez is an expert in removing honey bee hives and educating the public on bees.

Sanchez reports a dramatic increase in Africanized bee hives in the region.

“In 2024, I did 16 Africanized hives in one season. This year, in 2025, this is going to be number 36 of the Africanized killer bees here in South Texas. That’s a lot of increase, a lot of population explosion,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez works all over South Texas, including Mathis, Flour Bluff, Calallen, and Portland, where he mentioned a recent bee attack occurred.

“Some dogs died there, I don’t know exactly all the details, but they were attacked,” Sanchez said.

The City of Portland confirmed they have received three reports of bee swarms within city limits over the past four months.

Sanchez believes human development is contributing to the problem.

“Man is getting so industrialized and so into technology that they’re forgetting about nature and they’re leaving it unchecked,” Sanchez said.

Texas Apiary Inspection is taking an aggressive approach to slow the spread of Africanized bees in the state. Sanchez suggests what we need are more beekeepers.

“We need to take care of our bees because we need them so badly and nothing grows without bees,” Sanchez said.

Most experts acknowledge that while bee removals are necessary, they often try to save the bees for pollination purposes.

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By Blair Sabol

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    ELLICOTT CITY, Maryland (WMAR) — A high school senior who loves Halloween and tech has transformed his front yard into an elaborate Halloween spectacle that’s inspiring neighbors to join in the spooky fun.

Sam Reid created “The Fright Nite Show” — an automated display that parodies The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

“So when I started to work on the show back in February, it was just a crazy idea,” Reid said.

The impressive setup requires seven screens, four computers and significant power to operate. Reid programmed the automated show, complete with lights synced to music, smoke machines and more.

“So this year, our sound system is using around 3,500 watts of pure power going to our seven speakers around the property,” Reid explained.

The tradition along Carroll Wind Drive in the Hollifield Station neighborhood began after COVID, when Reid saw an opportunity to combine his interests into one spectacular display. It took some convincing to get his family on board.

“We don’t do a lot of like holiday decorations and Halloween was his thing, so he asked us, can you start doing some lights? Can you do a little bit of this, a little bit of that?” said Jarrett Reid, Sam’s father.

Before they knew it, the display had evolved into the immersive experience that now draws crowds on Halloween night.

“I said to my wife, I think we need to get more candy this year,” Jarrett said.

The show features plenty of action, including a guillotine that drops on cue, a new motorized element all built and programmed by Reid.

He doesn’t just operate the display from behind computers — he’s also part of the performance alongside characters like Tibia Turner and JackO Lantern.

The entire script is written by Sam and voiced with help from friends and neighbors. The audience is also encouraged to participate in the interactive experience.

Reid has noticed his elaborate display has inspired others in the neighborhood to step up their own Halloween decorations.

“Truly proud, you know, it’s bringing community together. We have a lot of people come by. Everyone’s excited, everyone’s very supportive,” Jarrett said. “Some of the neighbors got together and made a plaque for him recognizing how he’s been bringing everyone together and sort of the joy that he’s brought to the community.”

The show runs every 20 minutes throughout Halloween night, weather permitting. While Reid continues tinkering with final details until the last minute, he’s already planning how to top next year’s display.

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

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

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