Middle schooler struck in head during PE by thrown ‘metal object,’ suffers brain injury

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Neal Augenstein

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    MONTGOMERY OCUNTY, Maryland (WTOP) — The mother of a Montgomery County Public Schools middle schooler says her son suffered brain injuries after being struck by a thrown “metal object” during gym class last Wednesday.

Emily Diaz, who said her son’s name is Lenny, established a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $30,000 as of Monday morning.

The boy was hit in the head “by what was described as a metal object thrown by another student,” according to an email to the Odessa Shannon Middle School community from Natasha Booms, principal of the school, located on Monticello Avenue, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Diaz said her son’s injury “was an open skull injury and the bone fragments went into his brain,” she wrote. “He’s currently in PICU and on a breathing tube to help him breathe and recover.”

“Our thoughts and hearts are with the student and their family, and we are staying in contact to offer support and receive updates on their condition,” wrote the principal. “Our staff will continue to reinforce expectations for safety and appropriate behavior, and additional supports are available for students or staff who may need to talk about what happened.”

Diaz described her son as “a very smart, loving, adventurous young boy,” but “we are unsure of how he will be after recovery, but the possibilities of him being impaired are there,” in terms of speech, mobility and memory.

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Pig kidney removed from man who set world record with pioneering transplant

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Neal Riley

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital have removed a pig kidney from a New Hampshire man 271 days after the innovative transplant.

Tim Andrews was 66 years old and suffering from end-stage renal failure when he received the genetically edited organ on Jan. 25. He holds the world record for longest time living with a pig kidney.

Mass General said Andrews has been experiencing “a period of decreasing kidney function.” He will go back on dialysis and is still on the list to receive a human kidney.

Upon receiving the transplant in January, Andrews said, “I believe this is the start of something that’s going to be fantastic.”

“It’s going to be the option for people that don’t want to be on dialysis, they want to be able to be with their kids and loved ones,” he said.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are more than 101,000 Americans on a waiting list for a kidney, but only 17,000 people receive one each year.

“Tim has been a selfless medical pioneer and an inspiration to patients with kidney failure around the world, and we extend to Tim our most heartfelt thanks for trusting the transplant clinical team with his care throughout this journey,” the hospital said in a statement.

Mass General surgeons performed the first successful pig kidney transplant into a living human in March of 2024. That patient, a 62-year-old from Weymouth, died two months later due to health reasons that were unrelated to the transplant, doctors said.

Mass General said it expects to perform a third pig kidney transplant later this year.

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Woman who lost her sight trains to run the New York City Marathon

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Nicky Zizaza

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A 66-year-old Baltimore woman is preparing to take on the world’s largest marathon even though she can no longer see the road ahead.

King was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare inherited disease that causes progressive vision loss. It began with trouble adjusting to dim light, then slowly narrowed her field of vision until, in 2024, she was declared legally blind.

But for Jackie King, seeing clearly has nothing to do with sight.

“I’m gradually losing my sight,” King said. “At first I didn’t understand what was happening. The movie theater would seem darker, and my eyes wouldn’t adjust.”

Dr. Stephen Pappas of the LifeBridge Health Eye Institute said there’s no cure for the disease, which damages the light sensitive cells of the retina. “Over time, the vision cells deteriorate and central vision can be affected,” Pappas said.

Instead of giving up, King found a new purpose. She started running.

“I saw other runners and said, ‘I want to run a marathon,’ even though I’d never run more than a mile,” she said.

King’s first race turned into a lifelong passion. But as her vision declined, she started missing obstacles, once tripping and falling during a half-marathon. That’s when she realized she needed help to keep running safely.

King connected with Achilles International, a group that pairs athletes with disabilities with volunteer running guides.

On Saturday mornings, she meets her guides, like Emmeline Leggett, and dozens of others at Patterson Park. Each runner and guide wears a bright yellow shirt, a symbol that no one runs alone.

“I’ve been with Achilles since the start of the Baltimore chapter,” Leggett said. “It’s about creating community and trust.”

With her guide by her side, King has regained her confidence. She’s spent 20 weeks training for the New York City Marathon after winning the lottery to run, she is set to run alongside other Achilles athletes from around the world.

Her daughter, Demerise, often cheers from the sidelines. “It’s awesome to see her run so well after everything she’s been through,” she said. “I’m so proud of her.”

For King, the race is about more than miles. It’s about perspective.

“I don’t want to be seen as a disabled athlete,” King said. “I’m an athlete with a disability. It’s a choice to keep going.”

When King crosses the finish line in New York, she may not see it clearly, but she’ll know she’s already won.

King will compete in this Sunday’s New York City Marathon with Achilles International by her side.

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a group of rare eye diseases that affect the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of the eye). RP makes cells in the retina break down slowly over time, causing vision loss, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to the NIH the most common symptom is a loss of night vision that usually starts in childhood.

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DNA test on Newton County black bear does not match Springfield man’s killer

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Shannon Becker

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    LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (KOAM) — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission today announced that final DNA analysis from the Veterinary Forensic Science Laboratory at the University of Florida has confirmed that the DNA collected from the black bear killed in Newton County on Oct. 4 does not match the DNA of the bear responsible for the death of 60-year-old Max Thomas of Springfield, Missouri.

Thomas was found Oct. 2 in Sam’s Throne Campground of the Ozark National Forest. His body was discovered by a Newton County sheriff’s deputy during a welfare check at Thomas’ campsite requested by the man’s family.

A bear was euthanized by AGFC biologists three days after the incident, as size, physical characteristics and photographic evidence initially pointed to a high probability that it was the attacking animal.

The AGFC has had traps and game cameras in the area since shortly after the attack occurred. Only one bear has been seen on the game cameras and no bears have been caught in any of the traps deployed in the area.

Key Findings:

No Match: DNA samples collected from the victim of the fatal mauling at Sam’s Throne Campground in Ozark National Forest do not match the DNA profile of the male black bear killed in the immediate area. Concerns: Because the bear responsible for the attack is still at large, the AGFC is continuing efforts to locate and safely remove the animal from the vicinity. Safety Measures Remain: Sam’s Throne Campground and surrounding public areas remain closed to ensure public safety while the search and monitoring operations continue.

AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock says the agency will continue to be vigilant in its efforts to find the bear responsible for the attack.

“While we are disappointed that the initial search did not neutralize the threat, our commitment to public safety remains paramount,” AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock said. “We acted decisively based on the best evidence available at the time, and now that we have definitive forensic data, we are adjusting our strategy. Our teams will continue to work tirelessly to find the bear.”

The AGFC continues to urge all citizens and visitors in the Ozark National Forest area to remain bear aware:

Store all food, garbage and scented items in bear-resistant containers or secured inside a hard-sided vehicle. Never leave food unattended. Immediately report any aggressive or unafraid bear behavior to the AGFC radio room at 833-356-0824. Please respect the current closures of Sam’s Throne Campground and adjacent trails until further notice.

Additional information to help prevent bear conflicts is available at Bearwise.org

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Teen is first successful hunter of Missouri Bear Season

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Shannon Becker

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Missouri (KOAM) — Missouri black bear season opened October 18 and we learn a teen was the first successful hunter on opening day 2025.

The Missouri Department of Conservation share a special family photo of Corbin Wallace, 16, who was hunting with his grandfather Robert Wallace on private land in Douglas County when he harvested a 300 lb. (boar) bear.

Black bear season runs through Oct. 31. You must have a bear tag obtained in the annual random draw earlier in the year to be eligible to hunt.

Read more how to apply in 2026 and read about the bear management zones including the harvest limits as the population continues to recover annually in the show me state.

Black Bear Management Zones Black bear hunting is allowed south of the Missouri River in three Black Bear Management Zones (BMZs). You may hunt only in the BMZ specified on your permit.

BMZ 1: The portion of Missouri west of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. Highway 60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border.

BMZ 2: The portion of Missouri east of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to Interstate 44; east on Interstate 44 to State Highway 47; north on State Highway 47 to the Missouri River; east along the Missouri River to the Illinois border

BMZ 3: The portion of Missouri south of a line running east from the Kansas border along the Missouri River to State Highway 47; south on State Highway 47 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to U.S. Highway 63; south on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60; west on U.S. Highway 60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to Interstate 44; west on Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border

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Former police officers create organization for first responders who encounter the unexplained

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

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    PHOENIX (eastidahonews.com) — Two longtime Arizona law enforcement officers have launched a unique organization aimed at helping police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders process encounters with things they can’t explain — from strange lights in the sky to unexplained voices on 911 calls.

The group, called UAP PD — short for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon Police Department — was co-founded by Mary Anne Robb and David Rich, both retired from the Gilbert Police Department after decades of service.

Robb and Rich said the idea came after realizing that while military pilots and civilians are increasingly coming forward about mysterious sightings, first responders largely stay silent — often out of fear of ridicule or professional consequences.

“Why aren’t law enforcement and first responders talking?” Robb told EastIdahoNews.com. “They see things on duty they can’t explain — lights in the sky, strange sounds, even figures — but they won’t say anything because of the stigma. They’re supposed to know what they’re looking at, and when they don’t, it’s terrifying.”

Rich knows that silence firsthand when, as a school resource officer in 2017, he was asked to respond to a chilling 911 call. It came from a phone at a local high school and, according to Rich, contained a whispered voice saying, “I scare.”

When Rich pulled surveillance footage from the school, he said no one was anywhere near the phone when the call was made.

“I checked everything — the phone company, the lines, the recordings. There was no logical explanation,” Rich said. “I was a total skeptic until that moment.”

When he brought the case to a supervisor, Rich said he was told to “drop it” and not file a report. Later, he learned other officers who responded were also warned not to speak about what they’d experienced.

“Police work is all about credibility,” Rich said. “If an officer says he saw Bigfoot or a ghost, that becomes a joke — and it can destroy his reputation on the stand. That’s why so many never talk.”

Robb, who spent 34 years with Gilbert Police, said she and Rich founded UAP PD to give those officers and first responders anywhere in the world a place to share their experiences safely.

“We have over 800,000 officers in the U.S.,” Robb said. “They’re out there every day, all night, under open skies. You can’t tell me they aren’t seeing things. They just need someone they can trust.”

Since launching two years ago, UAP PD has collected more than 80 firsthand accounts — from across the U.S. and as far away as Australia. Some involve UFOs or “unidentified aerial phenomena.” Others describe ghostly encounters or strange creatures.

Robb often travels to meet first responders face to face. She recently went to Utah after a police officer there confided he’d seen what he believed to be a Bigfoot.

“He thanked me for coming because he’d kept it inside for years,” she said. “He was afraid to tell anyone — afraid it would ruin his career.”

The organization also offers connections to counselors, clergy and peer support for those shaken by such experiences.

“These things create trauma,” Rich said. “First responders are trained to control chaos. But when something happens that doesn’t fit what they know is real, it can shake them deeply.”

Robb and Rich speak at conventions, symposiums and law enforcement conferences, urging others to share their stories. Their mission, they said, isn’t to convince skeptics — just to create a judgment-free space.

“We don’t need people to believe in ghosts or UFOs,” Rich said. “We just ask them to admit there are things in the world we don’t yet understand — and to give first responders the grace to talk about it.”

Robb added, “It’s about helping the men and women who protect us every day deal with experiences that don’t fit inside a police report.”

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‘Justice cannot undo tragedy’: Bionca Ellis sentenced to life in prison for fatal stabbing of 3-year-old boy

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Maya Morita, Courtney Shaw

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    CLEVELAND (WEWS) — Bionca Ellis, the 32-year-old woman who fatally stabbed 3-year-old Julian Wood last year in a North Olmsted grocery store parking lot, was sentenced on Monday morning to life in prison without parole.

On an emotional morning in which family members and the community remembered and mourned the boy who lost his life, Judge John J. Russo issued the sentence the boy’s parents requested. “Justice cannot undo tragedy,” Russo said. “Mental illness does not excuse what you did.”

Jared Wood, Julian Wood’s father, said his family is missing out on the time they should get to spend with him.

“All of our hearts will forever be missing a piece,” Jared Wood said.

Margot Wood, who was also injured in the stabbing, said she watched her son take his first breaths and had to hold him in her arms, covered in blood, taking his last breaths.

“That woman murdering my son replays in my head every single day,” she said. “I can still see the terror in his eyes and it haunts me every day.”

“Just because you have a mental illness, doesn’t justify for you murdering my son,” she said.

North Olmsted Police Detective Sean Ventrice said the death of a child will forever impact all of the officers.

“In policing, we learn to build emotional armor, but this case pierced through it completely,” Ventrice said.

Ellis’ attorney, Mack Fernando, said Ellis was unstable from January 2024 until June 2024 because she was not taking her medicine and asked the judge to weigh her mental health during the sentencing.

The defense requested a sentence of 20 years.

What happened

On June 3, 2024, Ellis stole two knives from the Volunteers of America thrift store and then walked next door to the North Olmsted Giant Eagle, where she spotted a 38-year-old woman pushing a child in a cart.

Ellis followed Margot and Julian into the parking lot and then stabbed the child while he was in a grocery cart. When Margot tried to pull Julian out of the cart during the attack, Ellis stabbed her as well.

Margot and Julian were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, Julian succumbed to his injuries.

Ellis’s trial

Ellis’s trial date was repeatedly delayed as she was standoffish in court and ordered to have several mental health assessments to determine if she was competent to stand trial.

The trial began on Oct. 6, with both the defense and the prosecution presenting their opening arguments. And while neither side disputed the facts of what happened, Ellis’s mental health was at the center of the case.

The days that followed were marked by eyewitnesses taking the stand to recount the events of June 3, 2024. Margot also testified, stating that she had had no connection or previous encounters with Ellis before the attack, which she said was sudden and came out of nowhere.

Ellis’s defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. They previously said their client’s behavior, medical history and interactions during and after the incident showed she was insane during the attack.

On Oct. 15, after a week of testimony, Ellis was found guilty on all charges of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, attempted murder, tampering with evidence and aggravated theft.

Julian’s parents, Margot and Jared Wood, made a statement to the media after the verdict was announced.

“We just want to thank everyone for the love and support for our son,” Margot Wood said after the verdict was announced. “Everybody that’s visited him, commented, sent love, we appreciate you guys so much. This was for him today.”

Following Julian’s heartbreaking death, the community came together in support of the Wood family, as the streets of North Olmsted became flooded with the color green and dinosaurs during his funeral procession.

And almost a year after the stabbing, the community still rallied behind the family, with almost 1,000 runners showing up for the first-ever Juju Dino Dash — a 5K race honoring Julian’s life this past April.

“He was obsessed with dinosaurs. Anything that had to do with dinosaurs — shows, dressing up as them, playing with them,” Margot said in April. “So we wanted to dedicate this race to him and what he loved.”

A GoFundMe was also started shortly after Julian was killed, raising more than $270,000, well surpassing the $10,000 goal.

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Man expands stadium tours for ALS families while honoring his late mother

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Rachel Henderson

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    KANSAS CITY (KSHB) — A Kansas City man’s mission to honor his late mother has grown into a nationwide organization, bringing joy to families battling ALS through professional stadium tours.

Amecco Watkins founded The Rose Watkins ALS Tour of Dreams after his mother passed away from ALS in 2023.

The organization provides tours of professional stadiums for ALS patients, their families and caregivers.

“I can definitely feel her presence in here,” Watkins said while standing in his mother’s former room.

Amecco took care of Rose for 10 years.

What started as a single tour at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in August has expanded to multiple cities.

In October, Watkins took his mission to Texas, where he gave a tour of AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

“Some couldn’t afford to go to a game, some have never really been in the stadium. So to do a VIP tour, it was really exciting for them,” Watkins said.

The tours have attracted support from local businesses.

Cameryn Shady, general manager of an Arlington Papa John’s, provided pizzas for one of the stadium tours.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to give back to my community, and being the general manager of this store allowed me to do that. While I wasn’t able to give monetary wise, I was about to give what I could, which was pizza,” Shady said. “Just because I don’t have anyone in my life affected by ALS does not mean that Amecco’s cause is not worth my attention and respect. This Papa John’s location sends so many orders to the stadium for tours, teams, and employees; it felt good to send one to support the Tour of Dreams.”

Sunny Brous and her family joined Watkins for the Dallas tour.

Brous was diagnosed with ALS in 2015 and has defied the typical prognosis for the disease.

“I’m celebrating 11 years soon. I’m really excited,” Brous said during a video call.

ALS typically worsens over time and affects muscle movement.

On average, the disease leads to death within two to five years of diagnosis, making Brous’ longevity remarkable.

“A common theme is: you have ALS, go home and get your affairs in order. And how isolating the diagnosis was and the progression was,” Brous said.

But Brous has maintained a positive outlook throughout her journey.

“I think it’s been fun. Would I wish this on anyone? Absolutely not,” she said. “I always say, ‘If we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it together.'”

The stadium tour provided Brous a unique experience that combined her love of football with meeting other ALS families.

“Getting this opportunity to meet families that I haven’t met before at the greatest stadium in the world really combined two of my absolute passions. We had a blast,” Brous said.

Watkins disagrees about who has the “greatest stadium,” but he can back Brous’ passion behind the overall experience.

“It was unreal. It’s like she’s right here with me,” Watkins said.

Watkins said caring for his mother meant rarely leaving home except for doctor appointments, which provided brief relief.

Now, he travels frequently, but it’s all in Rose’s honor.

His mission extends beyond the patients to include their support systems, too.

“I had to make sure that the caregivers and the family got out of the house as well. They’re there 24/7 caring for their loved one,” Watkins said.

The organization has ambitious plans for expansion, with Watkins eyeing tours at stadiums across the country.

“Being a Chiefs fan, it’s just Arrowhead. Everything’s about the Chiefs,” he said. “When I got to Dallas and I got to view their stadium, it was pretty interesting. It was a nice stadium… There’s a long list. It’s gonna be pretty cool. I don’t want it to stop.”

Watkins has his sights set on Levi’s Stadium in California and U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota for upcoming tours.

For Brous, the tours represent something different from traditional ALS fundraising activities.

“You do the walks, you do the different things, but this is a different angle; it’s a different opportunity,” she said.

She’s inspired by how Watkins has transformed his grief into something meaningful for the ALS community.

“Taking this really awful thing called ALS and then making it into something so much bigger is just amazing, it’s inspiring,” Brous said. “To take that passion and turn it into a legacy that translates to other teams, to other organizations and fans like me, it’s huge.”

Though Brous never met Rose Watkins, she feels connected to her legacy.

“I didn’t get to meet Amecco’s mom, but I love that she has a legacy,” Brous said. “I love Rose for that, even though I didn’t get to meet her.”

One of the most touching tours was the one Watkins gave KSHB 41’s Rachel Henderson of his mother’s preserved room, which still has her hospital bed, Bible and stuffed animals.

“It’s kinda hard to come in here,” Watkins said. “I can definitely feel her presence in here. A lot. But it’s always a good feeling. Being around my mom is such a good feeling.”

He finds comfort knowing she accompanies him on every journey.

“We were never ashamed to take our mother anywhere. We loved our mother so much,” Watkins said.

Those interested in supporting The Rose Watkins ALS Tour of Dreams can donate here.

—

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSHB’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Bird Flu detected at commercial egg farm

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Hernan Gutierrez

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Animal health officials in Indiana announced that a flock of birds was quarantined after bird flu was detected at a commercial egg farm in LaGrange County.

According to a news release on Saturday, 19,700 birds were impacted by the quarantine.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health says it is actively monitoring a 12-mile radius within LaGrange, Elkhart and Noble Counties following the detection of the H5N1 influenza virus.

So far month, officials have detected the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in seven commercial flocks, all in northeastern Indiana.

According to the state’s online dashboard, highly pathogenic avian influenza has impacted more than 30 flocks this year. As of noon Monday, the portal had not been updated to reflect the newest case.

Health officials say the bird flu does not pose a risk to food safety.

Poultry owners are urged to be aware of the signs of the bird flu, including sudden death without clinical signs, lack of energy, decreased egg production, soft-shelled or misshapen eggs, among other symptoms.

If these are present, owners are asked to report the illness to the USDA Healthy Birds Hotline: (866) 536-7563.

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Snatched-up slowpokes: Pair of tortoises stolen from Indianapolis Zoo

CNN Newsource on October 27, 2025

By Michaela Springer

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police in Indianapolis are seeking the public’s help finding two tortoises that were stolen from the Indianapolis Zoo earlier in October.

These tortoises – an Egyptian tortoise and a Northern Spider tortoise – are housed in the zoo’s Deserts exhibit. Investigators believe the theft happened sometime between 10 a.m. Oct. 11 and 10 a.m. Oct. 12.

Jake Oakman, the zoo’s senior VP of external relations, says the zoo is working closely with ISP to find the tortoises.

“The Indianapolis Zoo had two small tortoises stolen from our facility. We are working closely with law enforcement to investigate the theft. We continue to hope for their safe return and we appreciate the community’s support during this time. The Zoo will provide updates when they are available.”

The stolen reptiles both have microchips and are considered “critically endangered species.” The Egyptian tortoise has a “prominent scar” on its belly, police noted.

Anyone with information on the tortoises was asked to contact ISP Capitol Police at 317-234-2131 or Crime Stoppers.

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