150 Chicago Public Schools students get to take the stage at Lyric Opera for annual Choral Fest

CNN Newsource on October 24, 2026

By Noel Brennan

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — More than 150 Chicago Public Schools students got the chance to take the stage and go behind the scenes at the Lyric Opera on Wednesday.

High school singers from six public schools got to rehearse with Lyric Opera professionals during the third annual Chorus Fest.

Nyla Language, 16, was excited to trade a normal day at Jones College Prep for an inside look at the Lyric Opera, courtesy of professional singers and maestro Michael Black.

“It’s a reminder of why I do what I do, because a lot of these students, I will probably see in the next few years coming through Lyric to work as singers,” Black said.

General director John Mangum said watching those students get their first look inside the Lyric Opera “is so exciting and so energizing.”

“I hope they see this as a place where they can, if they want, if they want to work in the arts or perform or sing, that this is a place for them,” he said.

Students learn what it takes to sing like a pro, and build a production from the ground up.

“It’s amazing hearing them,” Language said. “It’s been kind of surreal for me. I think it’s going to hit like a few hours later.”

High schoolers got to go behind the scenes at the Lyric Opera before going front and center on stage.

“I suspect, for the kids who are really into this, they’ll be so excited to be here,” Black said. “I hope today these students take a core memory for the rest of their lives. Absolutely.”

Choral Fest is part of Lyric’s opera residencies, which provide free training in language arts, music, drama, and performance skills for kids in grades 1 through 12.

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Poverty simulation gives participants glimpse of life on tight budget

CNN Newsource on October 24, 2026

By Madeleine Wright

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    CHESTER COUNTY, Pennsylvania (KYW) — About 100 people took on the challenge of making it through a month living in poverty during a hands-on simulation Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester.

The event, organized by the Resilient Students Network and its partners, challenged participants to navigate the financial pressures that can come with trying to cover basic necessities on a limited income.

United Way Chester County member Melissa Wilson was among those taking part. During the simulation, she had to make difficult decisions about how to spend her money while balancing everyday expenses.

At one point, Wilson said she had nearly $200 left but still needed to buy groceries for the week and go to the emergency room after cutting her hand.

The exercise offered participants a glimpse of how quickly unexpected expenses can complicate an already tight budget.

“It’s been really eye-opening to see how people struggle just to get through basic day-to-day necessities,” Wilson said.

The simulation aimed to help participants better understand the challenges faced by people experiencing economic hardship and the policies that can affect their lives.

“We can familiarize ourselves with some of the legislation out there that affects people who are living in economic poverty,” Wendy Gaynor, executive director of the Resilient Students Network, said.

The Resilient Students Network hosts simulations like these several times a year, hoping participants leave with a deeper understanding of the difficult choices families facing poverty may have to make.

“Someone might be struggling and you don’t know it. A little bit of help might get that person on the right track,” Wilson said.

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Thank you note from a child to a firefighter after 9/11 leads to a full-circle moment, 25 years later

CNN Newsource on October 24, 2026

By Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK CITY (WCBS) — Twenty-five years ago, a little girl named Emily Clark wrote to a firefighter after 9/11, asking him to write back.

FDNY Captain Tom Brown did more than that. He showed up at her school instead.

Now, he’s back in her classroom, though this time, she’s the teacher.

Clark was a fourth grader when she wrote her card in the dark days after 9/11, when many children were writing to their heroes. Brown kept the card, which now resides in his basement, and his heart.

“At the bottom it said ‘please write back,’ and it was … just sticks with you,” Brown said.

Twenty five years ago, Brown showed up at Clark’s Levittown school, and talked to the class about bravery and gratitude.

Now he has surprised another elementary school class. This time, it was taught by Dr. Emily Clark, currently a fifth-grade teacher at the Meadow School in Baldwin.

Brown tracked her down and found her teaching in his own hometown.

“It was that whole circle thing that put a chill down your spine,” Brown said.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Clark said. “I just feel very lucky that I got to see this full circle, that my students got to experience it.”

His presence in her classroom is living proof of the power of heartfelt written words.

“A simple thing like a letter is so powerful,” Brown said. “Too easy to go on our electronic devices. Write something down because that will last forever. Our phone, you’ll delete it and never see it again.”

“I think it just highlights the importance of taking time to say thank you and to reach out to people that mean something to you,” Clark said.

That’s a lesson she passes on to her students, who now write thank-you notes to first responders.

“She carried what she did 25 years ago, and is still doing it today. That’s huge,” Brown said.

“A small little note, a tiny act of kindness can really go a long way,” Clark said.

And now another generation is learning how far a little kindness can go.

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10-Year Treasury Yield Falls Below 5% Amid AI Selloff

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Tom LoBianco | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — Investors sought safety in U.S. Treasury securities Thursday as concerns about the cost of financing the AI boom mounted.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield dropped below 5%, ending near 4.95%, marking its biggest single-day decline since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023.

“It’s the first time since late June it’s been under the 50-day (average), and the yield is down almost 40 basis points from recent two-decade highs above 5.36%,” wrote Joe Mazzola at Charles Schwab in their daily investors note.

The shift followed weeks of volatility as investors weighed rising borrowing needs and concerns about the U.S. fiscal outlook. Total federal debt topped $40 trillion this year, while gross federal debt has exceeded 100% of gross domestic product for more than a decade.

Just a few months ago, analysts and investors viewed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s increased buyback plan as an effort to ease pressure on longer-term bonds. Treasury said the purchases would support market liquidity, while analysts questioned whether they would address the broader concerns driving yields higher.

This week brought earnings reports and filings from tech giants driving the AI race, highlighting the cost of building data centers and other infrastructure. Meta said it expects capital expenditures of $135 billion to $145 billion in 2026, including principal payments on finance leases, to support its AI efforts and core business.

In its third-quarter SEC filing, dated Oct. 21, Meta described the financial risks associated with its technology investments.

“We have incurred significant indebtedness and other contractual commitments, including lease obligations, to finance these investments and expect to continue to incur additional obligations,” Meta reported. “Some of these investments have generated only limited revenue and reduced our cash flows, operating margin, and profitability, and we expect the adverse financial impact of such investments to continue for the foreseeable future.”

The warning appeared in a broader discussion of investments that includes AI and Reality Labs, the company’s virtual and augmented reality business.

In the bond market, the U.S. has lost its top credit rating from all three major rating agencies. S&P was the first to downgrade the U.S. from AAA to AA+ in 2011, citing rising debt and concerns about the effectiveness and predictability of federal policymaking.

Fitch followed in 2023, citing repeated debt-limit standoffs in Congress, expected fiscal deterioration and the nation’s growing debt burden.

Moody’s, which had assigned the U.S. its top rating for more than a century, was the last of the three agencies to downgrade. It lowered the rating from Aaa to Aa1 in May 2025, citing rising government debt and interest-payment burdens.

But even with those warnings, U.S. Treasuries have continued to attract investors seeking safety during market turmoil.

Meta entered the bond market in 2022 with an initial $10 billion sale, receiving ratings of AA- from S&P and A1 from Moody’s. Moody’s upgraded its rating to Aa3 in April 2024.

Corporate bonds generally offer higher yields than Treasuries of similar maturity, to compensate investors for the risk that the company won’t make its payments or that the bond will be hard to sell.

For Meta and other companies racing to build AI infrastructure, financing needs are growing as investors weigh how quickly that spending will pay off.

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Queens apartment seekers allege broker’s text exposed housing discrimination

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Stacey Sager

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    QUEENS, New York (WABC) — A couple has filed a lawsuit against a real estate brokerage, an agent and several property owners after they say a broker sent a text message referencing their race while they were seeking to rent an apartment in Queens.

Lisa Renee Olaso and her fiancée, Cyril Christopher, said they were excited to move to 26th Avenue in Flushing in June after relocating from Delaware because Olaso had a new job. They said a broker from Douglas Elliman was scheduled to meet them to show them a rental apartment.

According to the couple, the broker never met them in person and instead saw them from a distance. Olaso said she was accidentally included on a text message intended for the property owner.

“As we were getting out of the car, I received the text message that said, ‘Ugh. They are Black,'” Olaso said.

Olaso said she immediately told Christopher to get back in the car. She then explained to the broker why.

“When she looked at her phone, she started to explain that there were previous, Black tenants in the neighborhood and that they had caused a lot of trouble,” Olaso said.

The couple is suing Douglas Elliman Realty, Tzelios and several people listed as owners of the property. Their attorney, Kenneth Mollins, argued that the text message did not occur in isolation.

“Unless the person receiving the text gets it in some context to know, why she’s sending that. So, we believe the homeowner was in some way responsible here,” Mollins said.

In a statement provided Wednesday, a Douglas Elliman spokesperson said: “Douglas Elliman has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind, and the agent is no longer with the company.”

Messages were also left for the homeowners and the broker.

Christopher said the experience was painful.

“It’s like judging a book by its cover. You haven’t even read the book, and you already made a judgement call,” he said.

Olaso said the broker apologized, but the incident continues to affect her.

“But it doesn’t change the pain. It doesn’t take away the pain that you caused us that day,” Olaso said.

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Kansas man pleads guilty to abusing infant daughter, causing severe brain injuries

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By KAKE News

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    LARNED, Kansas (KAKE) — A 28-year-old central Kansas man has pleaded guilty to abusing his 4-month-old daughter last year, an incident that left her with developmental disabilities and blindness.

Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett said Derek Degado pleaded guilty on Thursday to felony child abuse, and his sentencing is scheduled for November 23. McNett said the child’s family opposed the plea agreement and asked that the court reject it and require the matter to advance to trial.

The child was in critical condition when she was flown from Pawnee Valley Community Hospital to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on October 9, 2025. A court document said the baby’s mother fed her daughter around 4:30 a.m. and placed her back in the parents’ bed in a U-shaped pillow. She left her Larned home for work at around 6 a.m. About an hour later, she discovered that the child’s father, Delgado, had texted her at 6:54 a.m. indicating that he had awoken on top of the girl and that she seemed limp and wouldn’t hold her head up or kick.

“When the mother arrived home, she found the child lying on their bed struggling to breathe with Delgado shining his cellphone flashlight in the child’s eyes. They then transported the child by private vehicle to PVCH in Larned, Kansas. After being intubated, the child was life-watched to Wichita,” McNett said.

Delgado told the medical providers, law enforcement and the Kansas Department for Children and Families that he woke up sometime after 6 a.m., tried to feed his daughter and fell back asleep. He did not know how long he was asleep before he woke up on top of the infant.

Dr. Kerri Weeks with the University of Kansas School of Medicine said that while the observed symptoms could be caused by the described asphyxiation, brain scans revealed brain injuries, which, in her medical opinion, were caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration from either high-force trauma or shaking, rather than crushing trauma as described by the father.

Due to the brain injury, the child is considered legally blind, and testimony stated that she is not meeting her developmental milestones as expected by an average child her age.

“At the time of sentencing, the State agrees to join in a defense Motion for Dispositional Departure to a non-prison sanction based on the substantial and compelling reason that the societal goal of offender reformation would best be served by requiring the defendant to (a) provide financial assistance and support towards the victim’s ongoing rehabilitation and care expenses, and (b) complete all currently recommended family/parenting support and mental health services,” McNett said in a release.

This means that if the judge approves the motion, Delgado will not go to prison. However, the victim’s family has the right to present alternative sentencing recommendations.

Delgado was remanded to the custody of the Pawnee County Jail. He’s being held without bond pending sentencing.

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Wichita’s ‘Elote Man’ has a supportive community by his side amidst his long road to recovery

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Sofia Galvan

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    WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — Wichita’s Elote Man, who you might recognize for selling his staple Mexican corn in North Wichita, is on a long road to recovery from a series of medical issues.

Just when he thought he was healthy enough to return to selling his elote, he was taken to the hospital again because of a heart issue. Now, he’s back out, and people in Wichita are stepping in to help.

Don Alberto Quesada, also known as the Elote Man, says after recovering from his hernia surgery in August, he decided to go back out and sell elote.

“I was selling corn on the cob when I started feeling a little pain right here in my chest,” Quesada said. “As soon as I sat down on the bench, I felt even worse. My vision blurred for quite a while, and I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even speak. They called an ambulance to come get me.”

Quesada says this happened on October 4 and says he was at the hospital for three days.

“I thought I was doing fine, but you know how it is,” Quesada said. “If it’s not one thing, it’s the other.”

Quesada is a familiar face to many for selling Mexican street corn on 21st Street in north Wichita.

After several medical issues, he says he now struggles to do simple movements when preparing the corn.

“You see, you need your hands,” Quesada said. “For instance, to grab the corn cobs from the cooler, and then you use your other hand to hold them in place while you add the cheese, mayonnaise, and everything else, before handing them over to the customer.

As his family’s main provider, not returning to his stand has been a financial burden.

That’s why Empower, Wichita By E.B., and many more are planning a lunch benefit for Quesada on October 25.

Empower By E.B. sent KAKE News a statement that read, “I invite the community to come out Sunday to Empower and support a local legend in the Wichita food scene. Let’s come together and show Don Alberto Quesada how uplifting and supportive Wichitans can be.”

“It seems like he kept attempting to keep going and, you know, start selling again, but it seems like his health just didn’t allow it,” Sally Aguilar said. “I think from that, the community became more aware of what was happening, so they obviously wanted to do something.”

Sally Aguilar, small business director with Empower, says the benefit on Sunday will go from noon to 3:00 p.m.

“We’ve connected with some of our local entrepreneurs that’ll be here as well, supporting vendors who plan on having some of their proceeds go to help Don Alberto as well,” Aguilar said. “I know that we have several volunteers that’ll be here to help sell the corn and just kind of make sure that we can raise as many funds as possible.”

Jacob Clark and Wichita By E.B. will ride Quesada’s elote carts for him from his house to the event.

Clark said in a statement, “I’m happy to be a part of the Elote Man Benefit. He’s a local legend here in Wichita, and right now, he just needs a helping hand. I’ve always loved being able to support people in our community, and seeing Sally and the amazing team at Empower, Wichita by E.B., Eddy at Pinole Blue, and so many other people and local businesses come together and use their talents to elevate an individual that means so much to his community.

Vendors such as Happy Hermans, Buck Wild Jerky, Consuelos’s Street Grill, and others will take part in supporting Quesada.

Scott Blosch with Happy Herman’s, in a statement, said: “When we heard about the opportunity to give back, it was an immediate yes for us. We’ve been so impressed by the way the Wichita community continues to show up for one another, and we’re thrilled to be a part of something that makes a positive difference.”

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.

Eagles fans turn mural into giant get-well card for Jalen Hurts

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Matteo Iadonisi

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Neighbors in Fairmount have turned an Eagles mural into a community-wide get-well card for Jalen Hurts.

It was facilitated by the mural’s artist, Bill Strobel, who left some chalk on the sidewalk for passersby.

Strobel created the mural after the first Hurts-era Super Bowl in 2023. At that time, he remembers fans writing thank you messages on the wall despite the loss.

A few years and one Super Bowl win later, Jalen Hurts now faces a new challenge: his health.

After Hurts’ diagnosis with blood clots, Strobel placed a makeshift bandage on the mural.

Then, the get-well wishes started coming.

In just a few days, the wall has been flooded with warm messages written by fans in chalk.

On the other hand, some fans have turned to writing personal letters to send in the mail.

A Facebook group titled, Philadelphia Eagles Fan Group, has seen an influx of posts and comments describing efforts to send letters to the Jefferson Health Training Complex.

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Birth control for rats? PETA suggests solution for Philadelphia’s rat issue

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Caroline Goggin

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — As Philadelphia officials look to tackle the issue of rat infestations throughout the city, PETA is suggesting a new option: birth control.

In a letter penned to the mayor and city council, PETA representatives said the birth control would make the rodents infertile and prevent them from getting pregnant. The goal, PETA says, is to reduce the rat population over time.

Action News spoke with Jakob Shaw, PETA’s Manager of Strategic Initiatives.

He said his organization has already seen birth control become an important part of integrated pest management programs across the country.

“The city of Baltimore’s Department of Public Works reported this year that the pilot with rodent fertility control products was so successful that it’s being expanded citywide,” Shaw explained.

However, he said the first priority in Philadelphia, and in rat-infested spots across the country, needs to be cleaning up city streets.

“As long as people are leaving garbage to rot in alleyways and city streets, we’re basically just rolling out the red carpet for rats,” Shaw said. “Rather than a rat czar, what cities really need is a trash czar to make sure that the food and trash that’s bringing the rodents into areas in the first place is made inaccessible to them.”

Philadelphia’s Health Department declined an interview about the issue. Instead, a spokesperson released this statement:

“The Health Department does not use birth control as part of our vector control activities and have no plans to. Simply put, there’s no research to show that it works to lower rat populations. On the other hand, there is oodles of research showing that IPM, or integrated pest management, works to reduce rat populations in both the short- and long-term. In terms of integrated pest management, we work with residents to reduce the food and water supply, harborage, and hiding places, which has been proven time and again to naturally reduce the number of rats over time.”

Erica Sanchez, the owner of Roman Shield Pest Control, said the rat problem is getting worse, especially in Northeast Philadelphia.

“We have a real public health concern right now. Rats carry diseases; they spread illnesses. So we need to make sure we get this issue under control,” Sanchez said. “And bait boxes are going to be one of those treatment plans that are necessary.”

Sanchez showed Action News one of the bait boxes and explained how exactly they are used in neighborhoods throughout the city.

“So there’s a little hole on the side, and they will crawl through this,” she said. “You’re going to see here – this is poison. It’s rodenticide. So mice, rats, come inside of here, eat the bait, and then they’re going to die off.”

Sanchez said it typically takes four to 10 days for rats to die after ingesting the poison.

She said while people express concern about using the bait boxes, they are currently the most common and effective way to reduce the rat population.

However, she said using birth control could be a solid long-term solution to address the issue.

“I’m open to the idea more for long-term prevention. It’s not going to do anything for us today. It’s not going to solve the immediate issue at hand right now,” she said. “That birth control, it’s going to take months, years before we can see any effect with it.”

Right now, she said the city needs to collaborate with residents to conquer the problem with a combination of trapping, baiting and birth control. The key, according to Sanchez, is for people to seal up entry points to their homes and to make sure their trash and food are inaccessible.

“We have to consider what is making these rats thrive. What are the sources keeping them alive? And then we need to go and eradicate those sources.”

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6-year-old girl hit by falling bricks from building in New York City

CNN Newsource on October 23, 2026

By Jaysha Patel

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    QUEENS, New York (WABC) — A 6-year-old girl is recovering in the hospital after she was struck by falling bricks while playing outside in Maspeth.

The incident happened just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday near 59-01 Maspeth Avenue.

A family friend said the building belongs to the girl’s family. The friend said the child was peeking through an opening to wave at her father, who was at the construction site, when the bricks fell on her.

She was taken to the hospital with a head laceration and a broken leg, but is said to be stable.

The portion of the structure that collapsed was described as a 4-by-3-foot section of the brick side facade.

The girl’s mother said she was unloading groceries from a car when she heard her daughter scream. The father also witnessed the incident from behind a fence,

“A very scary situation. She was crying. Her leg is broken and she needs surgery,” the girl’s mother said. “She was under the big one, it was very heavy. She’s been walking here everyday because we live here.”

The city’s Department of Buildings responded and is investigating. Inspectors were seen taking photos of the building as part of their investigation.

As a result of the partial collapse, DOB issued a violation to the property owner for failure to maintain the garage building.

Police officers also searched the sidewalk with flashlights as they worked to determine what caused the debris to fall.

The girl is expected to undergo surgery for her leg on Friday.

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