Author: CNN Newsource

By Krista Tatschl

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — One look around the bedroom of 12-year-old Jace Zembsch, and you see the typical teen things: gaming systems, Star Wars and superhero posters. His favorite distractions, though, sit in kits and boxes waiting to be assembled: Legos.

Legos came in handy through the annoying, painful regimen of chemotherapy and endless hours spent in bed at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Zembsch fought a type of cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, for over a year. It is a rare, aggressive cancer that usually starts in bone or sometimes in the soft tissue around bones. It mainly affects children, teenagers and young adults, most often between ages 10-20.

The cancer eventually spread from his kidney to his lungs, brain and left jaw. His parents asked if he wanted to do another round of chemotherapy, and he chose not to continue the process that made him feel so ill.

Zembsch passed away three weeks ago, but not before tasking his parents with fulfilling a final wish: He wanted to give other children in the hospital what comforted him the most.

His mother, Brooklynn Zembsch, standing outside Children’s Mercy Hospital, recalled, “When he was here, they would come in and ask him, ‘What can we give you to make you feel better?’ He would ask for Legos and they’d say, ‘Well, we’ll go try to find some Legos.'”

Jace’s mom created an Amazon wish list filled with every type of Lego set and board game for which a kid could hope.

On Monday, the family delivered on Jace’s wish, with hundreds of donations pouring in. A sticker on most of the packages shows a picture of Jace. He is smiling, lying on his back in a pile of brightly colored fall leaves.

“We’re gonna do this every year on his birthday,” Brooklynn Zembsch said.

The donations included many of Jace’s favorites, such as a Lego set of the house from the Pixar Animation Studios movie “Up.”

“He liked the ‘Up’ house a lot … bunches of those in there,” she added.

Brooklynn Zembsch expressed the importance of the donations, saying, “We just wanted to make sure other kids could have those things that made Jace feel really good because we know how depressing it can be for kids to be here.”

She also shared how the initiative helps keep Jace’s memory alive.

“It helps remind us of him, too,” she said. “We want to always keep his name alive … Everything Jace went through, we wanted to always have a bigger purpose.”

The family is grateful for the support they have received.

“It just means so much to us,” Brooklynn Zembsch said.

Children’s Mercy often receives in-kind donations. The link to arrange a donation can be found here.

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 Alexis Barrett

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    PADUCAH, Kentucky (WPSD) — While the government shutdown may have ended, food insecurity remains a pressing need for many. However, McCracken County High School junior Ava Adame hopes to make it easier for both those who want to help and those in need to find blessing boxes.

Adame and her mother had been trying to donate to a box, only to find that the one they located was no longer in use.

“So I was trying to find another blessing box nearby, and I noticed it was really hard to find that,” Adame said. “So I thought it would be best to make a website where it’d be more accessible to, like, see blessing boxes nearby.”

The site features both a map and a list of boxes — almost 150 boxes are logged, and Adame says it is still being updated. The list includes McCracken, Marshall, Calloway, Ballard, Graves, Livingston, Fulton, and Carlisle Counties.

“Initially, I only was going to plan to do McCracken County, but as I was doing it more, it spread more to other counties,” Adame said. “I ended up doing most of West Kentucky, and I want to eventually do more.”

While most of the boxes are for food, there are also boxes for books, menstrual products, and pet food.

“I think our community really does enjoy donating and helping each other out, but they just don’t have the tools to do it easier,” Adame said. “So I feel like with the website, it makes it more accessible to others to donate and to borrow from the boxes.”

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 Addison Kliewer & Kilee Thomas

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — An Oklahoma City police officer hitched a ride on the hood of a stranger’s car during a pursuit.

Body camera video from March 6 shows the moment the officer began pursuing two minibikes that did not have headlights, making it difficult for the bikes to be seen, according to a police report. Both drivers failed to stop at a stop sign near Southwest 41st Street and South Santa Fe Avenue.

As the officer began to chase the two drivers in his patrol vehicle, the two minibikes separated. The officer continued to chase one minibike down Southeast 44th Street.

The police report said the driver fled down several streets and disregarded numerous stop signs and traffic lights.

The minibike eventually made its way to a dead-end road on Southeast 41st Street. The driver began traveling through a residential yard and a small field north of the roadway.

The officer then exited his vehicle and began running after the bike.

Stranger comes to the rescue The minibike eventually re-entered the street at Southeast 40th Street.

When the officer reached the intersection of Southeast 40th Street and Santa Fe Avenue, he saw a passing vehicle with its window down.

“Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!” the officer said to the driver, while hopping on the hood of the car.

The officer “made contact with the driver” and quickly determined that the driver was willing to assist law enforcement, according to the police report.

“Drive! Drive! Drive! Drive!” the officer said.

The officer then directed the driver of the vehicle while hanging on to the hood of the car for about two minutes.

The driver of the minibike stopped briefly at Southwest 49th Street and South Sage Avenue. The officer jumped off the hood and subdued the minibike driver.

“I didn’t see you!” the minibike driver said.

“Yes, you did!” the officer responded.

The driver was taken into custody at the scene.

The stranger who drove the officer around on the hood of his vehicle stayed on the scene.

“So, that’s the kind of adrenaline y’all get to deal with?” the driver of the car said.

The minibike driver was arrested for eluding a police officer, failure to maintain liability insurance, driving without a license, failure to use a safety signal, failure to stop at a stop sign and operating a minibike on a street.

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 Vanessa Murdock

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    NEWARK, New Jersey (WCBS) — Michael B. Jordan’s best actor win at Sunday night’s Academy Awards resonated at his alma mater, Arts High School in Newark.

Students celebrated Monday, with some speaking about dreaming of someday standing on the Oscars stage, too.

Jordan, who graduated from Arts High School in 2005, captured the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of twin brothers “Smoke” and “Stack” in the smash hit “Sinners.”

Theater teacher Carl Gonzalez taught Jordan as a junior and senior and has been at the school for 24 years. He said every finger was crossed before the winner was read by Adrien Brody, last year’s best actor winner, on Sunday night.

“I was looking for [Jordan’s] reaction and it was lovely when he was looking at his mom and his mom was like, ‘Yes, you’ve won. Yes, your dream came true,'” Gonzalez said.

As a student, Jordan not only attended classes, but played basketball and landed a role on the legendary HBO series “The Wire.” Gonzalez describes him as serious, pensive, charming and easy to like.

“I stand here because of the people who came before me — Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker,” Jordan said during his acceptance speech.

“It was all vintage Michael B. — lowering the ladder, collaborating, bringing everyone into the fold,” Gonzalez said.

Asked after his victory what his advice is to aspiring actors and young people, Jordan said, “Dream big, dream big, bro. Be kind and be honest.”

That message was received and internalized by the theater students and more at Arts High School.

Senior Lyle Avery was heard screaming on his cellphone Sunday night after Jordan’s victory.

“Just looking up to him, man. Him being another kid from Newark, proving once again that everything is possible,” Avery said.

“We’re just buzzing with excitement and joy and pride,” Arts High Principal Regina Sharpe said.

“I know that’s right. I knew he was going to do it,” junior Nasir Arrington added.

That was the sentiment from every single theater student CBS News New York spoke to — and we spoke to many inspired by Jordan’s story.

“Even though it’s a lot of hard [work], it pays off,” junior Jaylenne Calo said.

“We talk about it all the time. Michael B. Jordan, he’s so successful, won his first Oscar, first nomination. That’s 10 times more impressive — your first nomination and your first win,” junior D’Anthony Daniels said.

“He represents us and if he’s not ashamed to be from Newark and to be from Arts High, why would we be?” sophomore Elani Ruiz said.

For junior Bradalise Idrovo, reminiscing about the win helped her get through state testing.

“I was thinking, wow man, I’m about to go to the class that Michael B. Jordan was [in]. I’m about to talk to the teacher that Michael B. Jordan talked to and got taught by. It allowed [me] to push through. Man, I can’t give up now,” Idrovo 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.

By Wayne Covil

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    PETERSBURG, Virginia (WTVR) — For many living in the Tri-Cities, hearing there is a threat of severe weather takes on new meaning when the word tornado is added.

Thirty-two years may have passed since a massive tornado struck the area, but for some who lived through that destructive day, time has not eased the fear.

On August 6, 1993, a tornado scarred the earth with a trail of destruction from Old Towne Petersburg into Colonial Heights, then Prince George and Hopewell. Three people were killed when the tornado hit the Colonial Heights Walmart, and one person was killed in Prince George County.

“The Tri-Cities takes Tornado Watches and Warnings very seriously,” Colonial Heights Police Chief Billy Anspach said.

Errick Hayes was in the Tri-Cities when the tornado hit.

August 6 was supposed to be a special day for him as he was set to get out of the military the same day the tornado struck.

He still remembers driving off post and seeing the destruction.

“First time I’ve ever seen anything like that and I’ve been all over the world,” Hayes said.

To this day, he says he is still impacted when there is a tornado threat.

“I worry about it. And then I worry about the trees around my house, it’s got me worried right now,” Hayes said.

Petersburg Fire Chief Wayne Hoover was working that day 32 years ago.

“I was driving Engine 2,” Hoover said. “I distinctly remember seeing a lot of chaos. I can still remember to this day, the strong strong smell of Natural Gas due to busted mains and stuff like that.”

Hoover spent Monday preparing for potential storms.

Bubby Bish was with Southside Virginia Emergency Crew that day.

“We saw destruction in our city,” Bish said.

Bish also remembers how first responders worked together.

“The Petersburg Police Department, they’re law enforcement officers but they did a terrific job that day. They got together and helped move patients, moved debris, it was just amazing how well everyone worked together,” Bish said.

“Immediately you just have a flashback of what happened. It will never go away, it won’t,” Bish said.

While many who lived through that day still struggle with storms, good did come out of it. Among the biggest developments was a two-way radio system that allows departments in Central Virginia to easily communicate with each other during national disasters.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVR 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 Patrick Phillips

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    ADAMS COUNTY, Ohio (WCPO) — The trial of rapper Afroman, who is being sued by Adams County Sheriff’s deputies, began Monday.

Joseph Foreman, known professionally as Afroman, is heading to trial this week in a lawsuit filed by Adams County sheriff’s deputies who claim he used their likenesses without permission. Foreman’s defense says the case is about freedom of speech.

The first day of the trial focused on some of Foreman’s social media posts following an Aug. 21, 2022, raid on Foreman’s home. He captured the raid on security cameras around his home and used the footage in a music video for his song “Lemon Pound Cake,” which went viral. Footage he posted on his Instagram page showed multiple officers breaking down a door and entering with long rifles drawn.

Foreman said the warrant that prompted the search was for drug trafficking and kidnapping. He said in a 2023 interview about the raid that he was in Chicago at the time and that his neighbors called and told him that “the police were all over my property.”

The artist said the raid caused “significant damage” at his home. He also said the deputies disconnected his surveillance footage and claimed they stole some of his money when $400 came up missing from what deputies said they had.

“They started investigating themselves and they say it was simply a miscount,” he said in that 2023 interview. “How do you miscount $400?”

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted an outside investigation on the raid conducted by Clermont County and found that no money was stolen, just miscounted.

Foreman did not face charges after the search.

But deputies sued, saying in court documents that they suffered humiliation and received death threats.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps 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 Cyera Williams

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — For Marine Corps veteran Larysa Murray, service didn’t end when she left the military.

“I served in the United States Marine Corps for 5 years.”

Murray left the Marines with the rank of sergeant, but the leadership skills she developed during that time continue to shape her work today.

“Challenges in the Marine Corps as a woman, I guess, would be that we’re just simply outnumbered.”

At the time she served, women made up only a small percentage of the force. Murray says navigating that environment taught her how to connect with people from different backgrounds and experiences.

“You really develop a skill set to be able to connect with people one-on-one to become an effective leader.”

After leaving the military, Murray returned to school and completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Soon after graduating, she found another way to serve. She joined Team Rubicon, a disaster response organization that deploys volunteers to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that mobilizes military veterans, first responders, and civilian volunteers to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters around the world.

The organization focuses on providing rapid disaster relief after events like hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and floods. It leverages the skills, leadership, and teamwork developed in the military to deliver aid quickly and effectively in crisis situations.

The organization has deployed on hundreds of disaster response operations worldwide, assisting communities after major disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and large-scale storms.

Murray’s first deployment came just days after finishing graduate school, responding to devastating tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma.

“During that operation, I really saw that Team Rubicon was drawing the best of the military experiences…the camaraderie and the community through service.”

The mission resonated deeply. Murray became more involved, eventually joining the organization full-time.

“Our primary mission is just getting into areas after a disaster to help the community in need.”

Responding to disasters often means meeting people during the most difficult moments of their lives. Murray says those interactions reinforce the importance of the work.

“You understand how meaningful it is once you interact with the community members and hear their story.”

During Women’s History Month, Murray hopes her journey encourages more women to pursue leadership and service.

“I think it’s important that women keep raising their hands and stepping into those leadership positions.”

Her message extends beyond the military.

“The first step is just to make the decision to give to service.”

Whether through military service, volunteering, or disaster response, Murray says helping others is one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference.

“There’s really nothing greater than giving back to the community and giving to those in need.”

Team Rubicon now has more than 200,000 trained volunteers helping communities recover after disasters across the United States and around the world.

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.