Real life ‘Magic School Bus’ transforms learning

By Gabrielle Harmon

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    NORFOLK, Virginia (WTKR) — There’s a unique school in Norfolk that’s taking education on the road, literally — Solstice Hybrid Academy operates unlike any traditional school, offering year-round teaching to home schooled students where their classroom doubles as transportation to real-world learning experiences via fun-filled field trips.

“We’ve got all our stuff set up for our biome for this morning or this afternoon. We keep all of our students’ work stored up here,” said a representative showing the mobile classroom setup,” said Sarah Harrington, Founder of Solstice Hybrid Academy.

The academy’s founder, Sarah Harrington, is a teacher herself who understands the magic of hands-on learning.

“No other school actually has the classroom in the bus and then takes their students places,” said Harrington. “It’s very reminiscent of the Magic School Bus, Ms. Frizzle. You know, in the morning we’re learning about different things and then it’s like ‘buckle up everybody,'” she said.

The idea came to Harrington after the COVID-19 pandemic when she was helping to teach her son, niece and nephew. She realized then, effective education could happen outside traditional four walls.

“I think that I want to do field trips every day, recalled Harrington. ” Like I think I want to take a group of kids out on field trips every day to experience this amazing city, this amazing world.”

The school launched with just four students and has grown to serve 20 students. With hopes of one day expanding to another bus and adding more teachers assistance.

“This is definitely a labor of love. I don’t charge a whole lot for tuition. My whole thing is I want to have this experience. This is something I’m really passionate about,” said Harrington.

The mobile classroom provides everything students need for safe and successful learning while offering experiences Harrington hopes will stay with them long after graduation.

“My biggest goal is to help students find what drives them to learn and create new things and make change.”

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.

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Woman caught on camera breaking into homes in 2 Maryland counties wanted by police

By Tara Lynch, Adam Thompson

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    Maryland (WJZ) — Police are searching for a woman who was caught on security camera allegedly breaking into several homes in Anne Arundel and Howard counties.

The string of burglaries from Severna Park to Ellicott City has alarmed residents.

Anne Arundel County police said a woman was caught on camera breaking into a home on the 100 block of Jennings Road in Severna Park on Sept. 17. The department says the woman has tattoos on her left arm and behind her left ear.

In Howard County, police say the woman burglarized a home on the 3600 block of Blue Hill Court. on Sept. 10 and another home on the 5200 block of Kerger Road on Sept. 17.

“It’s violating” Sara Glasser told WJZ that her doors were locked when a thief broke in through a basement window and was caught on camera inside.

She called it extremely violating to have someone ransacking her home in Ilchester.

Howard County police said the same woman broke into a home on Kerger Road and Blue Hill Court within a week of each other, and she was caught on camera at both locations.

Glasser said the thief took laptops, some jewelry, a watch, and their power drill.

“It’s crazy, it’s violating,” Glasser said. “Honestly, like you move to the suburbs to feel that safety and just quietness, and to think that someone who shouldn’t be there is in your space and touching your things, and with your pets, who you love deeply. It just feels very violating.”

Glasser calls the neighborhood quiet, saying she has lived there for more than two years after moving from Baltimore.

She says the burglar tried breaking through their back door, using a brick to try to break the glass or the doorknob. When that failed, Glasser said the suspect broke through a basement window.

Glasser found the damage when she got home from work and was letting her dogs outside.

“It took me a second, but I was like, ‘Why do I feel a breeze?’ And then I look up, ‘Why is there an open hole in the window? Why is there glass on the ground?’ Oh my gosh, our stuff is everywhere. We’ve been robbed,” Glasser said.

Earlier that day, Glasser says her fiancé stopped by home during lunch to check on their two dogs. He left and locked the doors. About 15 minutes later, they say the burglar broke in..

Glasser says she is grateful her two dogs were safe, including one who faced the suspect.

“I think at first he [her dog Dewy] was excited because he loves everyone, and then he quickly realized this is not a friend,” Glasser said.

By sharing her story, Glasser hopes this string of crime comes to an end and the suspect is brought to justice.

“Just turn her in,” Glasser said. “There are other ways to make a living, and honestly, she’s not very good at it.”

Anne Arundel County burglary Anne Arundel County Police said the woman also broke into a home on Jennings Road in Severna Park. Police say she has tattoos on her left arm and behind her ear.

She was also wearing a cross necklace at the time of the break-in in Anne Arundel County, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Howard or Anne Arundel County police. In Anne Arundel County, tips can be called in to the Eastern District Detective Unit at 410-222-4662 or anonymously to 410-222-4700.

In Howard County, tips can be made to the police by calling 410-313-STOP or emailing HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.

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Man hid in child’s room in Bluffdale for 10 days, police say

By Jacob Freeman

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    BLUFFDALE, Utah (KSL) — Police were called to a home in Bluffdale on Sept. 8 because an 18-year-old was reportedly trespassing there, hiding in a young girl’s bedroom for 10 days, according to a probable cause statement.

The statement said 18-year-old Ryker Xethanial Buxton was allowed into the home by a 12-year-old girl living there.

“The reporting party confirmed that Ryker did not have permission to reside in or be present at the residence. Ryker was subsequently removed from the premises,” the statement said.

Then on Monday, a week after Buxton was kicked out, the girl’s parents called 911 to report that she had run away from home, and they believed Buxton was involved.

The next day, the statement said the girl and Buxton were found in Provo. Police interviewed the girl, and she said she had been with Buxton while she was missing.

When police interviewed Buxton, “he admitted to engaging in multiple sexual acts with the twelve-year-old child while he was concealed in her bedroom,” according to the statement.

“Ryker is currently homeless and is likely to flee if released on bail. During his interview he expressed that he and the victim had been planning to leave the state,” the statement said, arguing that Buxton shouldn’t be released on bail.

The statement said Buxton expressed that if he was released from jail, he would contact the girl again.

He was taken to the Salt Lake County Jail, accused of six felonies related to sexual abuse of a minor, as well as one count of felony burglary and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

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Red Sox fans say their tickets were resold without permission after disappearing from MLB Ballpark app

By Paul Burton

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — Red Sox fans were surprised to arrive at Fenway Park and discover that the tickets they had on the MLB Ballpark app had disappeared and been resold without their permission.

Nancy Morrisroe has been a season ticket holder with her friend since 2007. She said that at this game she had been using her friend’s seat and that the app had her tickets, but when she arrived, the tickets were gone. She immediately called her friend.

“I said, ‘Can you recall them and forward them back to me?’ He said, ‘There is no recall button; it shows I forwarded them to you,'” Morrisroe said. She said that her husband heard other people at the ballpark talking about the same issue.

Red Sox tickets gone from MLB Ballpark app

MLB said it had received several reports of fans arriving at games and saying that their tickets had been resold out from under them. The MLB received widespread reports of significant data breaches on other popular platforms, but there was no evidence of a breach of its systems. They did issue an apology to fans.

“Bad actors then have utilized leaked or stolen credentials from other websites in efforts to access the accounts of MLB fans. We are working tirelessly to address this matter and protect our fans,” the MLB said in a statement.

The MLB recommends that fans reset their passwords to something new and unique to the app, but that’s not enough for fans. Morrisroe said that the app needs two-factor authentication.

“I finally was able to delete the ballpark app, reinstalled it. Created a brand-new password between the Pittsburgh and Yankee game, and I lost my ticket. It’s still gone. It was still gone. It’s not a password issue. There needs to be some sort of safeguard in place,” she said.

Morrisroe says she misses the days of paper tickets.

“Oh my goodness, I loved getting those tickets,” she smiled.

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Teen turns family’s basement into one-of-a-kind haunted hotel with creativity and heart

By Wakisha Bailey

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    Pennsylvania (KYW) — Halloween is coming early in one Coatesville neighborhood, thanks to the imagination of 16-year-old Joseph Venziale.

Joseph has transformed his family’s basement into The Venziale Manor, a one-of-a-kind haunted hotel complete with thunder, flickering lights, and spine-tingling details.

“We are still working, we are still building, painting,” Joseph said. “I’ve been doing this since May.”

From an old Hollywood-style lobby to a luggage room where guests “check in” for their final stay, every corner has been designed by Joseph himself. He scouts props year-round and dreams up new attractions each season.

Last year, visitors faced a backyard clown tent. This year, he’s adding a ballroom with custom moving mannequins, plus his biggest challenge yet, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge.

“We built little boxes behind the walls with cutouts for the windows,” Joseph said.

Behind the scenes, Joseph’s parents and grandparents help build sets and costumes, while his friends take on the roles of 17 different actors.

“I always like to improve what I’m doing,” Joseph said. “Not only for myself but for everyone to enjoy.”

For the first time, the Venziale Manor is open to the public on Oct. 24 and 25. Tickets are just $5, with all proceeds benefiting The Spirit of Children.

From creepy elevators to stormy welcomes, Joseph’s haunted hotel is proof that sometimes the scariest places come from the most creative hearts.

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Stabbing leaves 1 dead, 2 hurt outside Hampton Coliseum during Phish concert

By Web Staff

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    Hampton, VA (WTKR) — A person was killed and two more were hurt in a stabbing incident Friday night near the Hampton Coliseum during a Phish performance, police said.

In a release put out Saturday, Hampton police described this as an “isolated incident.” They added that all parties involved were identified. Hampton police said a person of interest who fled the scene was found and detained nearby — police have yet to confirm whether this is the suspect in connection with this incident.

An increased police presence is expected to be near the Hampton Coliseum as Phish continues the next two shows for their three-night event, according to Hampton police

Phish said they are “deeply saddened” by the incident in a post made on Facebook.

Police say around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, an argument between several people led to a large, violent altercation that left three people injured. One was taken to the hospital where they died; the second person was taken to the hospital — a third walked into the hospital with a laceration.

Hampton police told WTKR News 3 on Saturday that this incident happened near an unofficial merchandise booth in a parking lot outside the Hampton Coliseum. Video captured by WTKR News 3 on Friday did show police tape roping off this area.

This investigation is ongoing — Hampton police say they are continuing to interview witnesses so they can figure out next steps.

WTKR has reached out to police and will update this article as new information comes in about the investigation.

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San Francisco billboard challenge puts AI engineers to the test

By Itay Hod

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — On a quiet San Francisco street, a plain white billboard seemed to appear out of nowhere. No logo, no tagline, just five strings of numbers. Was it an ad? An art project? Or something else entirely?

“It was a moment of desperation,” he said.

Alfred Wahlforss, cofounder and CEO of a small startup called Listen Labs, had a big problem: how to compete for artificial intelligence engineers against Silicon Valley giants.

“We’re hiring over 100 people over the next few months and there are empty spots, but we can’t fill them because Mark Zuckerberg is giving $100 million offers to the best engineers,” he said.

So they did something off the wall, spending a fifth of their marketing budget, about $5,000, on a billboard.

To most, it looked like gibberish. To the right eyes, a coding challenge. Solve it and you land on a website and face the real test, build an algorithm to act as a digital bouncer at Berghain, the Berlin nightclub famed for its nearly impossible door policy.

Quirky, sure? But for Listen Labs, the bouncer challenge was a metaphor for their own work, using AI to decide who gets interviewed for market research and who doesn’t.

They expected a few engineers might notice. Then someone posted it online and the puzzle went viral.

“Were you surprised by the reaction? It was wild,” he said.

Within days, thousands took a shot. 430 have cracked it, among them Alex Nicita, a software consultant from New York.

“It was very fun to go through, solve the challenge and reach the top of the leader board,” he said.

Now he’s in the interview round, and yes, some of these code breakers have already been hired.

In the end, 60 people made the cut, including the winner who scored a night at Berghain, all expenses paid.

“It’s a reminder to take risks and do something unique and different and extra extraordinary things happen,” Wahlforss said.

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Huntington Beach dentist helps Marine veteran who broke tooth while surfing

By Michele Gile

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    HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Marine veteran who broke his tooth while surfing has a reason to smile today after a Huntington Beach dentist stepped in to help.

Marine Corps veteran Brendan Gilmour had only surfed twice before taking part in the Waves of Valor event in Huntington Beach, where volunteer instructors teach veterans how to ride the waves for therapy and recreation.

Gilmour said he was just getting the hang of it when a wave sent his surfboard straight at his mouth.

“I instantly knew something was wrong,” Gilmour said. “Went and put my finger in my mouth to check my tooth, and sure enough, half of it was gone.”

Gilmour said he was bummed when he realized his front tooth was broken. However, he got some good news after a nurse on the beach checked him out and his surf instructor Louis Rice called a friend.

Rice looped in his brother, Dr. Muhammed Khan, an urgent care dentist and a veteran who works just a few blocks away from the beach.

“When that was broken, the nerve was not exposed, so we were able to bond it back with composite and match the color identically,” Khan said. “It looked like his identical tooth back again.”

Gilmour, who worried about getting the tooth repaired, was not expecting people to care so much and get it done on the same day.

“Instead of letting it ruin my weekend, I went in there, got my tooth fixed and left with a big smile,” Gilmour said. “It was a wonderful experience. It speaks a lot to that community there.”

Khan said he was glad he could help Gilmour.

“We are here to help as much as we can,” Khan said. “It’s an honor and a pleasure for us to do this for our veterans and our community.

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Minivan catches on fire after police pursuit ends in Southern California

By Matthew Rodriguez

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — The West Covina Police Department was in pursuit of a narcotics suspect in a minivan.

The driver led police onto the eastbound 10 Freeway into Fontana. He slowly evaded police with sparks flying out of the rear wheels of the van before jumping out of the driver’s seat along the shoulder of the freeway.

He tried to run away from officers, but they quickly apprehended him. Flames engulfed the minivan shortly after.

Police redirected traffic away from the burning van until the fire department arrived to douse the flames.

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‘One big family:’ Hundreds attend Milwaukee’s first Paw Fest, raise money for local rescue organization

By Ellie Nakamoto-White

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    MILWAUKEE (WDJT) — Hundreds filled the Henry Maier Festival Park grounds on Sept. 20 for Milwaukee’s first Paw Fest.

The paw-some event featured more than 60 vendors for both humans and pets, plus activities like a lure course and wading pools.

But while it was free to attend, it wasn’t just for fun — instead acting as a fundraiser for Winston’s Wishes, a local rescue organization that helps MADACC directly, senior dogs, and those pets needing extra medical care.

And it’s named after founder Jake Schneider’s best bud, who died last November.

“We had a wonderful 11 years together and he is just the true story of a rescue dog,” Schneider said. “He was in the streets of Milwaukee, found, his entire life turned when he found me and I found him, and then he inspired this organization where we’ve now been able to help so many pups because of him.”

On Saturday morning, Anthony Winneshiek said he decided to bring his two-year-old French bulldog, Cadence Tillman, to check out the fest.

“He’s the chillest dog I’ve ever had,” Winneshiek said. “If I start to sweat here it’s only because this guy is nothing but a lump of meat here.”

Winneshiek said Milwaukee’s dog community is special, and it’s important to have events that highlight our furry family members.

“It’s like music you know, it just brings people together so it’s really awesome to be a part of it,” Winneshiek said.

Organizers said they hope to expand Paw Fest in the future and make it a reoccurring event to continue to help pets in need while celebrating those with four legs.

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