Survivors and loved ones come together at 12th annual Lung Force Walk: “We support each other all the time”

By Raymond Strickland, Mike Spatocco

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Survivors of lung conditions, their families and advocates gathered at the Philadelphia Zoo Saturday for the 12th annual Philadelphia Lung Force Walk.

More than 1,000 people participated in the 1-mile walk. The trip took them around the zoo as families were encouraged to walk together while enjoying the zoo’s animals along the way.

Among the participants was Tiffany Fagnani, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017.

“I’m on my second line treatment now, and that medication was actually not approved. First-line treatment when I was diagnosed. And thanks to research and research funding, that medication was approved at the time that I needed it,” Fagnani said.

Valerie Brown, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer twice, said events like the Lung Force Walk have helped her navigate a difficult battle.

“We support each other all the time. It is so important. Anyone with lungs can get lung cancer. This can be a hard journey, and you sometimes need to lean on your community and your support people,” Brown said.

Both women are team members with Lung Cancer Survivors of Greater Philadelphia.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the state of Pennsylvania and across the U.S, according to the American Lung Association. In the Greater Philadelphia region, an estimated 3,820 people are living with lung cancer, and an estimated 973,200 are living with lung disease.

“My mother is a lung cancer survivor,” said John Whetstine, who studies cancer and has a lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Whetstine says he received a grant through the American Lung Association because of money raised at events such as the Lung Force Walk. He says fundraising is what helps him and others advance their research to help detect cancers early and save those affected.

For cancer survivors like Amy Grove, it’s that research that gives her faith and keeps her determined to never give up.

“It gives us a lot of hope to see a lot of people here,” said Grove, who is also a team member of Lung Cancer Survivors of Greater Philadelphia.

The fundraising goal for the Lung Force walk was $250,000. As of this writing, the event surpassed that goal by more than $10,000.

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.

New Jersey flag football referee chokes coach after call on field escalates, police say

By Tom Ignudo

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    FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (KYW) — A referee at a South Jersey flag football game choked a coach after a call on the field escalated Sunday, police said.

Edward McKinnie, 47, was charged with second-degree aggravated assault after he allegedly choked a coach at the Franklin Township Sports Complex at a youth flag football game, according to police.

Police said officers responded to the assault at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Franklin Township Sports Complex on Pennsylvania Avenue.

According to police, a call on the field escalated, and McKinnie allegedly choked a 46-year-old Newfield man who was coaching one of the teams.

Witnesses at the flag football game corroborated the assault, police said. They told police that McKinnie and the coach had to be separated by spectators at the game.

McKinnie, of Blackwood, was processed and released, and he is set to appear in court for the assault charge, police said.

The coach who was allegedly choked was treated by Gloucester County EMS for his injuries at the scene, according to police.

The assault 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.

Bethel Park police seek owner of chicken found wandering roadway

By Garrett Behanna

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    BETHEL PARK, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Police in Bethel Park are searching for the owner of a chicken that was found wandering along a roadway and temporarily disrupting traffic.

According to a social media post from the Bethel Park Police Department, officers responded to the area of 160 Drake Road after receiving a report of a chicken in the roadway, which was “apparently indecisive as to whether or not to cross the road,” the post read.

When officers arrived, they found the bird roaming in the center lane, creating a traffic hazard. Police said the chicken was safely captured after what they described as a brief foot pursuit.

The bird was transported to police headquarters, where officers joked that the chicken had been “detained” and “interrogated” before the chicken “claimed” she was directing traffic rather than blocking it.

Police identified the bird as what appears to be a Plymouth Rock chicken and are asking anyone who believes the animal belongs to them to contact the department at 412-833-2000.

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.

Mass General program helping cancer patients deal with physical, mental health in remission, “I feel more empowered”

By Mike Sullivan

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Massachusetts General Hospital program is providing support for cancer survivors to help deal with the physical and mental issues that come after their battle.

The “SMART Program,” which stands for “Stress Management and Resilience Training” for cancer survivors, focuses on the unexpected changes and health issues that come from dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

As a working mom, Kate Joyal says she constantly thinks about what’s coming next, but she could never have predicted her cancer diagnosis.

“I was hospitalized for a bowel obstruction in June of 2024, blindsided by it; I didn’t see it coming at all,” said Joyal. “‘I had a colonoscopy, and then I had some biopsies done, and that’s when I found out I had stage four colon cancer.”

After this life-changing diagnosis, the pieces of Joyal’s life began to scatter. As a mother of two, she says the fear for her family is what struck her the most. Her kids witnessed her undergoing chemotherapy at home.

“Because I am so young, they gave me a very aggressive form of chemo to help shrink the tumors down,” said Joyal.

After eight rounds of chemotherapy, surgeons at Mass General removed her tumor. Joyal did not feel relief. Instead, she felt sad and anxious.

“You don’t see your doctors as often. It’s scary,” said Joyal. “For those who have gone through the experience, it’s sort of the start of something else.”

After entering remission, Joyal had a new battle: one with mental health.

“How do you talk to people when you’re sad or anxious, and everybody else is thinking ‘You should celebrate, you’re done with treatment,” said Giselle Perez, the Director of the MGH Mind Body Cancer Survivor Program. Perez oversees the SMART program at the hospital.

So Joyal took part in the SMART program with other survivors her age. The program aims to build strength and resilience skills through group therapy. They are also testing to see if better mental health leads to improved physical health and have found multiple observations, but nothing causal or conclusive.

She explained it helped her acknowledge both her feelings and her situation. The group also talked about the aspects of their life they appreciate now.

“Some of the things that we all were saying are very simple. I was in tears after it,” said Joyal.

For instance, she never let her children sleep in her bed with her and her husband before, and now she does.

“I feel more empowered to be there for them and be a part of everything they are going through, and I don’t know if I felt that before,” said Joyal. “It gave me a better feeling of being their mom.”

WBZ and CBS are partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness Massachusetts this month. If you or someone you know needs help addressing mental health, you can reach out to them at namimass.org. You can also call them at 617-580-8541.

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Massachusetts teen graduates high school one year after being detained by ICE, hopes to “make a change in the world”

By Paul Burton

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    MILFORD, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Marcelo Gomes da Silva walked across the stage to receive his diploma from Milford High School on Sunday with an enormous sense of gratitude. “Definitely an important day and an amazing day in my life,” he smiled.

It was exactly one year ago when 19-year-old Gomes da Silva was detained for several days by ICE and eventually released. The agency said that Gomes da Silva’s father was their intended target, but they arrested the teen instead because his student visa expired and he was in the country illegally.

His detainment sparked outrage in the community and drew national attention. On Sunday, he thanked his school and his community for their support. “I am most grateful for my community. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t be graduating. I could possibly have been in Brazil or anywhere else,” he said.

Both of his parents attended the graduation and are thankful to see him achieve this accomplishment. For a long time, many doubted this day would come. “I’m very happy and thank God for everything, for the people’s help my family,” Marcelo’s mother, Diane Pereira said.

Many thought this day would never come. “I didn’t know. In the detention center especially, I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. But once I got out, I knew that I would do my best to give back to this community,” Marcelo said.

And as the graduation caps flew high, Marcelo knows this will be a new chapter in his life and a new perspective. “From me being taken by ICE and people coming out for me, it showed me that a lot of times people are judgmental of who they are around. And it kind of just taught me to think twice before saying anything about anybody else, or thinking a certain way about anybody because a lot of people are actually good people,” Gomes da Silva said.

Marcelo says he plans to head to Providence College to study political science. “Hopefully to be in politics and be able to make a change in the world. I feel like a lot of people love to spread out in communities and generations,” he smiled.

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.

Video shows alleged suspects in Baltimore playground shooting that injured child and man

By JT Moodee Lockman, Caroline Foreback

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Baltimore Police shared video showing the alleged suspects and car involved in a Baltimore playground shooting that left an 11-year-old and a man injured on Wednesday, May 27.

Police arrived at the scene in Baltimore’s Upton neighborhood, where they found the boy and a 26-year-old man with gunshot wounds.

On Friday, police said both victims are expected to survive.

Baltimore playground shooting Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Police Commissioner Richard Worley both condemned the actions, with Scott calling it “another case of weak men who cannot resolve their petty conflict without gunfire.”

The shooting took place at a playground next to Templeton Elementary School.

Worley said he believes the 26-year-old man was the intended target for the shooting and the child was a bystander. Other children were on the playground at the time of the shooting, police said.

“It affects the whole community because I don’t feel safe to come outside during the day,” said longtime resident Clinton Milburn. “At nighttime, I do not come outside at all. I worry about my granddaughters being out here on the playground, playing out front. We have to prevent things from happening.”

According to police dispatch audio, the suspects may have changed clothes at a nearby apartment after the shooting.

Suspects, car seen in video Video shared on Friday by police showed a white sedan pulling up. Two men dressed in all black are seen getting out of the driver’s side and the rear passenger side of the car before pointing weapons across the street.

Officials said the shooters pulled up across from the Marshall Recreation Center and Templeton Elementary off Pennsylvania Avenue.

Community reaction In a video posted on Facebook, Gari McCarter says she was coaching step dance in a building next to the playground when the gunshots rang out.

“For years I’ve been trying to find a safe place to practice,” she told WJZ’s Caroline Foreback.

She says the season is now canceled indefinitely.

“We just don’t have anywhere else to go,” she said.

Rick Fontaine Leandry, Chief of Community Engagement at MONSE, commented on the shooting, stating, “I think knowing some of the details of how it happened bothers me. No one should be shot at all, especially a child…Emotionally, it just didn’t sit right at all.”

Resources in place On Friday, leaders from the mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and other community organizations returned to the Upton neighborhood to listen to neighbors’ concerns.

“Especially after this incident, I think some of the neighbors and parents are concerned about the safety of their children and their grandchildren,” Leandry added.

He says they’re trying to connect people with resources and even employment in an effort to address systemic issues that contribute to neighborhood violence.

“We bring resources, therapists on call, we post up in the rec center over here. We brought some therapists to the school to work with the children,” he said. “Whenever there’s an incident, a traumatic incident, [the] community needs healing.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the suspects to call detectives at 410-396-2422 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.

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Ahead of World Cup, New Jersey restaurant embodies Mexican culture and pride for “El Tri”

By Luis Miguel Echegaray

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    CLIFTON, New Jersey (WCBS) — As the Mexican national team plays during the FIFA World Cup 2026, a New Jersey restaurant will become home away from home for fans.

La Fortaleza is the creation of Mexican superfan and restaurant owner Arturo Ortega. He has been in the business for more than 30 years.

The restaurant is located in several cities in the Garden State. It’s a shrine to Mexico, from the culture to the food and the country’s national team known as “El Tri.”

“Since the beginning, my dream was to share the Mexican culture, the Mexican gastronomy, music,” Ortega said.

Decorations and special memorabilia cover the restaurant The restaurant is decked out with flags, soccer balls, signed jerseys and even the gloves of the renowned goalkeeper Jorge Campos.

There’s also a golden mold of Hugo Sanchez’s feet, who is arguably the greatest Mexican player of all time.

The atmosphere is incredible, with videos of fans cheering, screaming and clapping during matches.

“I’m very passionate” Ortega told CBS News New York’s Luis Miguel Echegaray that he’s expecting customers to be very excited as Mexico opens the tournament against South Africa at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

“I’m really going to feel the game. Hopefully, Mexico wins this. Hopefully, we can get the quinto partido, please.”

The famous quinto partido is the fifth match. It’s the elusive objective for Mexican fans to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, something they have not achieved since 1986. That was the last time Azteca Stadium hosted the World Cup.

“I’m very energetic about this. I’m very passionate about soccer,” Ortega 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.

Shooting at Cutler Bay IHOP leaves 2 critically injured, suspect on the run, MDSO says

By Anna McAllister

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    CUTLER BAY, Florida (WFOR) — Two people are in critical condition after an early morning shooting at the IHOP located on the 18,000 block of South Dixie Highway in Cutler Bay.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office reports that the incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m., following a verbal argument inside the restaurant.

According to investigators, the suspect pulled out a gun during the dispute, shooting both a man and a woman before fleeing the scene.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported both victims to Jackson South Medical Center, where they are currently receiving treatment.

The condition of both victims remains unclear at this time. Authorities have not released the names of those involved, and details about the suspect are still limited.

Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of the suspect to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more details are confirmed.

If you have any information, please contact Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-8477 or visit the website.

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.

Jury selection in George Pino fatal boat crash trial expected to begin Monday

By Morgan Rynor

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    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the trial of real estate developer George Pino, who is accused of killing a teenage girl in a boat crash in Biscayne Bay in 2022.

While the judge did deny the request from Pino’s attorneys last week to move the trial out of Miami-Dade, the judge did say that if on Monday they have a difficult time finding an impartial jury, she would reconsider that request.

The crash occurred near Boca Chita Key in Biscayne Bay in September 2022, killing Pino’s daughter’s friend, then 17-year-old Lucy Fernandez. Now 21-year-old Katy Puig was left with a lifetime of disabilities after the boat crash.

Last week, the judge made several rulings leading up to the start of the trial on Monday.

She ruled that jurors will be allowed to physically observe the boat, which is being storied at the headquarters for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Prosecutors will also be allowed to see a limited number of photos from Fernandez’s autopsy.

There would also be limited discussions about two other girls who were injured in the crash.

The defense, though, is asking for alcohol-related evidence to be tossed out. But the judge did not make a ruling on that request during last week’s hearing.

The defense is also asking to keep out a written statement that Pino gave on the night of the crash, stating that another boat caused him to crash into the channel marker.

The judge is expected to rule on that on Monday.

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.

Video shows lithium-ion battery ignite in garbage truck

By Madisen Keavy

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    ROSEVILLE, California (KOVR) — Authorities are warning residents not to throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash after one sparked a dangerous fire inside a Roseville garbage truck.

The City of Roseville released dramatic video showing the moment the battery ignited in the back of the truck.

First came a cloud of white smoke. Seconds later, flames.

“It’s not a slow ignition process. It’s very rapid,” said Justin Sylvia with Sacramento Fire.

Officials said the lithium-ion battery had been thrown in the trash and was crushed inside the garbage truck, sparking the fire. It was the fourth such fire in Roseville this year.

Sacramento Fire officials say the smoke from those fires can also create a toxic gas cloud.

“Fire, chemical reaction, chain reaction, something could happen and it could produce toxic results, as well as that fire hazard,” Sylvia said.

Lithium-ion batteries have also sparked fires in Sacramento. They are commonly found in laptops, e-bikes, power tools and other rechargeable devices.

Officials say warnings not to throw them into regular trash bins go beyond city limits.

“Once you see a lithium-ion battery rupture inside the back of a trash truck, the chain reaction happens so quickly and so violently that it causes that fire to expand very rapidly,” Sylvia said.

It may sound like a warning people already know, but fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are rising as the devices become more common.

Many cities, including Roseville, offer free drop-off and pickup options to help residents safely dispose of dead batteries.

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.