Author: CNN Newsource

By Cyera Williams

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    HARFORD COUNTY, Maryland (WMAR) — When Army veteran Justin Garrity left the military, the transition home was anything but smooth.

“I did five years of active duty as a combat engineer officer and then five years in the National Guard and went to all the fun places Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, all the places everyone wants to visit,” Garrity said.

After ten years of service, including earning a Bronze Star in Iraq, Garrity returned home to Maryland during the height of the economic downturn. Despite his leadership experience and military training, he found himself unable to secure a job.

“So my transition out of the military is not great,” he said.

In December 2008, Garrity received one of the military’s highest honors. Just six months later, his circumstances had drastically changed.

“In December of 2008, I got a Bronze Star in Iraq and six months later I was on unemployment back here at home,” he said.

The sudden shift from success in uniform to unemployment left Garrity feeling disconnected and discouraged.

“It was disappointing obviously to go from success in the military to not success or being kind of out of work and kind of feeling like no value,” he said.

Rather than staying stuck, Garrity began looking for something meaningful he could build on his own. Sustainability had always interested him, even though it wasn’t something he grew up practicing.

“I didn’t grow up in like a super hippie family. I didn’t eat organic food. I grew up a normal family in Columbia, Maryland near the mall,” Garrity said. “But I just always thought like waste was really a weird problem that we have all this material and we just throw it away.”

That curiosity turned into research and eventually, a business plan. Garrity learned that roughly two-thirds of the material in Maryland trash trucks could be composted rather than thrown away.

“Two-thirds of what’s in every trash truck in Maryland is compostable,” he said.

In 2010, Garrity founded Veteran Compost, launching the company with no customers and limited support. He found a farm property through Craigslist, signed a lease, and took a chance.

“It was either a great opportunity or going to be a huge mistake,” he said. “Thankfully it worked out.”

Now headquartered in Aberdeen, Veteran Compost collects food scraps from residential, commercial, and food manufacturing customers across the state. The material—including food waste, compostable products, and even crab shells, is processed on-site and turned into usable compost in about 90 to 100 days.

“We accept any kind of food, even the stuff you wouldn’t do in your backyard, so meat, dairy, bones,” Garrity said. “Our piles are 140 degrees, breaking things down.”

The work is demanding and far from glamorous, something Garrity readily acknowledges.

“The business Maryland veteran business is not easy. Now, if I had to do it over again, I don’t know that I would,” he said. “But we’re here now.”

What keeps the company going, he says, is the people—many of whom share a connection to military service. Veteran Compost currently employs 35 people, about half of them veterans or family members.

“The whole reason this started was my trouble finding work,” Garrity said. “Our goal every day is to try to hire veterans and family members of veterans.”

Garrity believes the mindset he developed in the Army continues to guide him through the challenges of running a business.

“I think like that never quitting thing is probably the thing that kicks in the most,” he said. “There’s a fine line between being stubborn and dedicated, and I think we’re somewhere in the middle.”

For veterans struggling to find their footing after leaving the military, Garrity offers practical advice drawn from his own experience.

“I think that sometimes people come out of the military and they’re only looking in that lane that they were in in the military,” he said. “You got to look at the skills you have from leadership and experiences in the military and think broadly.”

15 years after its founding, Veteran Compost continues to expand its capacity around the Baltimore region, turning food waste into soil, and setbacks into opportunity.

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 Cameron Polom

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    PHOENIX, Arizona (KNXV) — For decades, a south Phoenix neighborhood kept asking for the same simple thing: a sidewalk. And for decades, the answer kept coming back — “no” — not because neighbors opposed it, but because silence counted against them in the city’s process. Now, after years of persistence and one critical tweak to the process, that long fight is finally paying off.

This week, the first stretch of sidewalk was completed right in front of 90-year-old Ms. Lottie Lecian’s home, a woman who’s been part of the push since the very beginning.

It’s a milestone moment for a community that refused to give up, even when the system made progress nearly impossible.

Neighbors organized through People United Fight Back, gathered petitions, and worked with the city to change a rule that once treated non-responses to neighborhood improvement projects as an automatic “no.” Once that became an automatic “yes,” a decades-long stalemate turned into real, visible change.

This is a story about patience, persistence, and what happens when a community keeps showing up long enough to reshape the rules and make their neighborhood safer for everyone.

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 Lauren Pozen

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Security cameras captured the moment a North Hollywood laundromat owner and her employees fought back against a robbery suspect. Vardan Kostanyan, who owns Laundry King with his wife, said the suspect walked into their laundromat on Tuesday and demanded the keys to their safe before attacking his wife. “He was just yelling, screaming, pushing, hitting my employees, including my wife,” Kostanyan said. As the suspect shoves her around, security cameras showed Kostanyan’s wife grab a laundry cart to shield herself as an employee stands close behind her. Seconds later, more employees rush in and slam the cart into the suspect to force him off her. “My other employee pepper-sprayed him and he was already trying to run out while the police were coming in,” Kostanyan said. “They were able to arrest him right outside.”

Kostanyan said he hired a daytime guard last year after a similar incident, but plans to increase the security even more after the attempted robbery.

“We need more cops,” Kostanyan said. “We need more patrols.”

Kostanyan said his wife is recovering at home. No one else was hurt.

The Los Angeles Police Department said they arrested the suspect after he was taken to the hospital.

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 Jesse Sarles

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    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — Littleton Public Schools is settling a lawsuit brought by three families for $3 million. It stems from a Littleton bus aide who pleaded guilty to abusing children with autism in 2024.

Kiarra Jones was caught on video in April 2024 hitting a non-verbal student while on the bus. Attorneys for the victims’ families say there were three boys who were abused.

Following the settlement, CBS Colorado received a statement from Jessica Vestal, the mother of one of the victims. It said, in part, “I want to express sincere gratitude to Superintendent Todd Lambert, Deputy Superintendent Melissa Cooper, and board member Lindley McCrary for recognizing the urgency of this situation and acting swiftly.”

It went on to say “We have already begun building a model that other districts can learn from — one that affirms disabled children are worthy of safety, dignity, and protection equal to any other child.”

The settlement will be paid for by the district’s insurance. It says there will be no impact on educational services to students.

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 Lisa Rozner

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — Luigi Mangione, accused in the December 2024 murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to appear in federal court on Friday.

The hearing, which Judge Margaret Garnett said will be brief, is designed to determine whether Mangione’s backpack was lawfully searched when he was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Judge Garnett said the hearing will be, “about the established or standardized procedures in use by the Department in December 2024 for securing, safeguarding, and, if applicable, inventorying the personal property of a person arrested in a public place.” The defense argues it was a warrantless search, and has asked the judge to suppress evidence found in the backpack, including a 3D-printed handgun and a loaded magazine, as well as a notebook, map and “survival kit.”

In a lengthy evidentiary hearing in his state trial, Altoona police officers involved in the search of his backpack testified it was their standard procedure to recover property like a backpack from a suspect at the time of his arrest, and a preliminary search of the backpack also would’ve been standard procedure.

The defense also claims Mangione was questioned before his Miranda rights were read.

The government argues everything was done appropriately.

The judge has ordered prosecutors to bring in an Altoona police officer to testify about the department’s arrest procedures, and the witness doesn’t have to be an officer who was at the scene. The order requests an officer with sufficient authority and experience.

Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges related to Thompson’s killing, which set off a nationwide manhunt. If convicted on some of the federal charges he faces, Mangione could get the death penalty.

Mangione’s defense team is also trying to get two federal counts against him, including the one that brings the possibility of the death penalty, dismissed.

Jury selection for the trial is tentatively scheduled to start in the fall.

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 Harris

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    LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia (WUPA) — Four family members were found shot to death inside a Lawrenceville home early Friday after a child inside the house called police to report gunfire, Gwinnett County authorities said.

Officers responded to the call in the single-family community around 2:30 a.m. When they arrived at the house in the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court, they found four adult victims dead inside the home, all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, according to Gwinnett County police.

Corporal Angela Carter said a child inside the home called 911 and reported hearing gunshots. Three children were later found hiding inside a closet. Carter said the children were not injured.

Police confirmed with CBS News Atlanta that all four victims are related in some way to the male suspect, who was found a short distance from the residence and taken into custody without further issues. Investigators believe the shooting was domestic-related. Authorities said there are no outstanding suspects.

A family member came to the home to pick up the children, Carter said. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

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 Kidd O’Shea , Photojournalist Colin Mihalich

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    WAUWATOSA, Wisconsin (WTMJ) — Jesse Hieb has traveled to some of the toughest places on Earth for disaster relief work, staying for months to help people recover and rebuild. But it was during his deployment to Asheville, North Carolina, for hurricane relief that he discovered something that would change his perspective on community building.

“I came across this sauna park called Drip Sauna, and I absolutely fell in love with the community and the culture that they had there,” Jesse said.

The experience inspired Jesse to bring that same sense of community to Wisconsin. He began the process of opening Heat Haven Sauna Park in Hart Park in Wauwatosa, envisioning a space where neighbors could connect and support each other.

Just as Jesse was getting his business plans underway, he was called to respond to another disaster — this time in his home state. In August, flooding hit the Muskego area, and Jesse found himself standing in a neighborhood that had been completely flooded, watching neighbors struggle with the aftermath.

It was at that moment that fate intervened. While surveying the flood damage, Jesse received a text message from the contractor who would build his saunas.

“He said, if you want to actually get this done, you’re going to have to put the deposit down today so that we can get them done in time,” Jesse said.

Jesse turned to his faith and made the decision to move forward with the project. Now, three wood-fired saunas sit in Hart Park, next to the community center where Jesse hopes people will come together.

“I’m getting to listen to people’s stories, everything from a local to a traveler, and they’re asking me about my story,” Jesse said.

The sauna park represents more than just a wellness amenity for Jesse — it’s a tool for building stronger community connections during challenging times.

“My hope is that it opens up a space for dialogue for people to get to know their neighbors, and that’s our hope — that community comes closer together because of this,” Jesse said. “Together we thrive through winter because winter is tough, especially this winter, which is shaping up to be a really tough one to get through, and we’re here to help you get through it.”

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

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 Marissa Armas

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    DALLAS (KTVT) — The Dallas Mavericks have narrowed their search for a new arena to two potential locations: downtown or the Valley View Center area in North Dallas. It’s sparking a mix of excitement and concern among fans, city leaders, and local businesses as the team weighs its next move.

“I would hate losing an arena downtown,” said Robert Resneder, a Mavs fan. “It brings so much vitality to the center of the city, but at the same time, I live in the suburb,s so if they were to move somewhere near the north side, I might kind of like that.”

The chatter on the move has a lot of people talking.

“I’m kind of sad about it, I love Victory Park, I love having them here,” said Burt Oliva.

His friend Tony Ruano echoed a similar sentiment.

“If they move this arena, it will be terrible,” Ruano said.

Council member Chad West said no matter what site they decide on, this is a win for Dallas.

“That’s the most exciting part of this whole situation, is that they are a Dallas team, they know that, and this is their home, and they’re going to stay here,” West said.

Dallas mayor pro-tem Jesse Moreno, who represents downtown, where the American Airlines Center currently sits, is pushing to keep the arena in his district. One of the potential sites is the land where City Hall currently sits, though the future of the building is still up in the air.

“Before anything is really evaluating City Hall, and the cost-benefit to stay at City Hall and rebuild, or to look at other options outside of City Hall, and so, that has not happened yet,” Moreno said. “We are still waiting for the results of the assessment of the building itself and the possible economic impact if we decide to go somewhere else.”

A move to Valley View would place the arena near Preston Road and Interstate 635, which Councilwoman Cara Mendolsohn, who oversees that area, said would also benefit southern Dallas.

“We will generate so much additional revenue for this city that we’ll take the budgetary pressure off of things like libraries, will take the budgetary pressure off of our growing payments for the pension, for police, fire, for hiring more officers on our streets,” she said.

Still, some worry that moving the arena out of downtown could hurt local businesses. The Mavericks’ lease with the American Airlines Center is set to expire in 2031. A decision on a new location is expected by July 1.

“They’re not focused on actually winning, they’re focused on the financial aspect of it,” Ruano said.

Some fans say a new arena should be the last of the team’s priorities.

“I think the ownership is ruining our team, honestly, I do not want us to move,” Oliva said.

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.