Author: CNN Newsource

By Nicholas Brooks

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    TERRY, Miss. (WAPT) — Some residents in the town of Terry are demanding answers after seeing their water bills jump dramatically following the installation of new digital water meters.

In some cases, monthly bills reportedly increased from under $80 to nearly $900, prompting frustration and questions about whether the meter replacement project is connected to the spike.

The town of Terry said approximately 500 homes recently received new digital water meters as part of an upgrade. Officials said they are now reviewing concerns raised by residents.

For homeowner Dale Arnold, the issue began shortly after crews arrived at his home to replace his meter.

“The first thing I saw was they came out here about two months ago to change the meter,” Arnold said.

Arnold said problems followed the installation.

“Well, they messed around and broke the pipe,” he said.

Arnold said the damaged line led to a water leak that continued for days. He believes that leak may be tied to his unusually high bill.

Town officials say the meter replacement project affected roughly 500 homes and involved replacing meters that were missing or not working properly.

Arnold said his most recent bill came as a shock compared to what he normally pays.

“It’s $878, so it went from $ 78 to $ 878,” he said.

He provided documentation showing his previous bill totaled just under $80, compared to a current bill of $878.

Arnold said he brought his concerns to city hall.

“That they were aware of it. Don’t worry about it wouldn’t be no late fee, wouldn’t be nothing,” he said.

He also said residents were not notified before crews arrived.

“No, I wasn’t notified about anything. I just saw strangers that are working on my meter,” Arnold said.

In a statement, the town of Terry said it understands residents’ concerns and is taking the issue seriously.

Officials said recent bills may include adjustments beyond a normal billing cycle due to the new digital meter installations.

The town said future bills should more accurately reflect current water usage. Leaders also said they are reviewing the charges and plan to address concerns at a public meeting.

We reached out to city hall for comment from the mayor, but calls were not returned before the deadline.

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 Christian Petersen

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    GREENSBORO, Georgia (WXII) — The parents of 2-year-old Er’Mias Mitchell are seeking a criminal investigation after he died last July following a dental procedure at Valleygate Dental Surgery Center in Greensboro.

Sharde Sherrill and David Mitchell described their son as a healthy, playful, and smart child who loved spending time with his father.

“He is very, very playful. He can go on and on and on. He’ll wear you out,” Sherrill said.

“Er’Mias was my best friend. That was like my mini-me. We did everything together,” Mitchell said.

Sherrill recalled how her son would join his father while working on the car.

“I used to work on my car outside. He would come out there and try to grab tools and try to do it with me all the time, too. It just made me think I did something about him, like he was just like his own little man, but he was just like a super mini man in a sense,” Mitchell said.

Their lives changed forever last July when Er’Mias died after being given anesthesia before a dental procedure.

“The day he died, a lot of me died that day too. And I’ve been struggling to go on because I feel like it’s unfair,” Sherrill said.

Sherrill and Mitchell said they were not informed by staff at Valleygate Dental Surgery Center that their son was in distress while they waited in the waiting room.

According to the autopsy report, Er’Mias went into cardiac arrest after receiving a second dose of Propofol to sedate him. He later died at the hospital.

“Every day, I’m just hoping I’m living in a dream. I’m hoping when I wake up, I hear my son say, ‘Mama.’ But then I wake up and I don’t hear it. So then I realize it’s my new reality that my baby is, he’s gone,” Sherrill said.

Er’Mias’ parents said they were unaware he had been given Propofol and are calling for a criminal investigation into his death.

In a letter obtained by WXII, Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump said their office does not comment on whether an investigation is being conducted. Crump wrote, “The medical examiner lists the manner of death as natural and I am not aware of this conclusion being amended.”

Sherrill said, “They will see then our son did not die of natural causes. My son went to a dental procedure and went into cardiac arrest. And something led to him going into cardiac arrest.”

The North Carolina Medical Board said all investigations are confidential. Er’Mias’ parents and their attorney plan to hold a news conference tomorrow in front of the Guilford County Courthouse, urging the district attorney to investigate their son’s death.

Valleygate Dental Surgery Center has not responded to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Greensboro Police Department said there are no updates in the case.

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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    SCOTTSDALE, AZ (KNXV) — Most people think about retirement in their late 80s, but Scottsdale’s Elliot Koidin was looking for a job.

At 87 years old, Koidin applied for a position at Rudy’s Bar-B-Q near Raintree Drive and the 101, hoping to stay active and connected to the community. Instead of focusing on his age, managers saw his energy, work ethic, and enthusiasm — and took a chance on him.

A year later, that decision changed lives on both sides of the hiring counter.

Known by regular customers simply as “Elliot,” the popular busser has become a beloved fixture at the restaurant, logging more than 1.4 million steps, losing 20 pounds, lowering his blood pressure, and finding a renewed sense of purpose along the way.

Koidin, who is now 88, works nearly 24 hours a week, greets customers with a smile, and has even become something of a local celebrity after a chance interaction with comedian Adam Ray went viral online.

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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    GILBERT, Arizona (KNXV) — For months, two sisters joked that their babies might arrive on the same day. As it turns out, they weren’t joking enough.

On June 7, sisters Rylee Rumsey and Kayla Strickland gave birth at the same hospital, just hours apart.

If sharing a birthday wasn’t incredible enough, both baby boys arrived weighing the exact same amount — 8 pounds, 6 ounces — and recovered just a few doors down from each other.

Now, these week-old cousins are already sharing a bond most families couldn’t script, while their moms got to experience one of life’s biggest moments side by side.

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 Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — Two Canyon County men say they were targeted, chased, and beaten by a group of men in downtown Caldwell Saturday night — and because of a gap in Idaho law, the attack cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Juan Olvera and his partner, Eric Reed, say they were dining downtown when a group of men began directing homophobic slurs at them. The couple says they got up and left, but the men followed them and attacked them.

Reed says he suffered a split lip. Olvera says he was punched to the ground, kicked, and left with a black eye.

“I thought I was going to die,” Olvera said.

“Wound up getting attacked, thrown in an ambulance, and now it makes me question… can I really go outside at all?” Olvera said.

“I don’t want to go to Caldwell ever again,” Olvera said.

Caldwell Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Peterson says officers responded quickly and made an arrest.

A man was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor battery.

Olvera and Reed say they believe they were targeted because of their sexual orientation and hoped the case could be prosecuted as a hate crime. But under Idaho law, hate crime statutes only apply when the motive is tied to a victim’s race, ethnicity, or religion — not sexual orientation or gender identity.

Peterson says investigators pursued every available avenue under the law.

“We do every step, everything that we can within and under the law to be able to bring justice for those individuals,” Peterson said.

The couple says they hope sharing their story will bring awareness to the years-long “Add the Words” campaign in Idaho, which seeks to expand discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“And I think laws like this by putting them in the code will allow to protect people like me who are affected by things that happen like this,” Olvera said.

Caldwell Police are asking anyone who witnessed Saturday’s confrontation to contact the department.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI 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 Tracy Carloss

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    WILLOUGHBY, Ohio (WEWS) — Beverly Thomas spent 33 years as a nurse caring for others. Now, the 79-year-old is the one in need of help. She is facing charges for failure to maintain her property and trim trees.

Thomas was summoned to Willoughby Municipal Court last week for misdemeanor offenses.

“I paid my taxes all of these years, I haven’t broken any laws, and they’re calling this a crime,” Thomas said.

Thomas said arthritis and tremors make it impossible for her to keep up with her yard. She uses a walker to get around.

“I went to court and heard [the judge] say that I can be put in jail over it, making it sound like a crime, then I got nervous and have trouble sleeping at night,” Thomas said.

She is not disputing that the work needs to be done.

But she said she simply cannot physically do the work anymore, and on a fixed income, she cannot afford to hire anyone. She said she tried calling social services but could not find help.

“I just don’t want to be in jail,” Thomas said.

Late Monday afternoon, the city of Willoughby provided this statement:

“While we cannot comment directly on any cases currently in litigation, we can provide general information regarding the city’s property maintenance enforcement process.

When a potential violation is identified, an inspection is performed from the public right-of-way to determine if a violation exists. If a violation is found, a notice is sent to the owner of record. This notice provides the codified ordinance number, a description of the violation, and a deadline to achieve compliance. The notice also provides information regarding the homeowner’s right to appeal should they wish to do so.

A follow-up inspection is performed at the deadline. If the violation has not been substantially addressed, or if there is a condition that may impact the health or safety of the public, the city may file a Complaint & Summons with Willoughby Municipal Court. If compliance is met prior to any scheduled trial, the city will immediately dismiss the charges. If compliance has not been achieved, it is ultimately up to the court to determine if further action is merited.

The City’s goal is always voluntary compliance, and legal action is generally the last step after attempts have been made to resolve the issue. If compliance is achieved prior to any scheduled trial, the city will dismiss the charges. If compliance has not been achieved, the matter proceeds through the court process.

The city recognizes that every situation is unique and will provide reasonable extensions when appropriate, as health concerns, financial circumstances, weather, and other factors can affect the ability to complete necessary work. However, the city must also balance these considerations with the need to maintain safe, well-kept neighborhoods and address conditions that may impact surrounding properties.” Thomas said she did receive previous letters from the city and believed the issues were addressed at that time.

She is due back at Willoughby Municipal Court next month for a pretrial hearing. Until then, she said she is trying to figure out what to do next.

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.