Author: CNN Newsource

By Valerie Zhang

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    LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — Global energy companies, scientists, and government leaders plan to discuss the supply chain needed for what researchers predict could be a booming lithium industry in South Arkansas.

“Some rough math on my part suggests that a mature lithium industry could be worth 3 billion bucks a year into the Arkansas economy,” said Erik Pollock, the director of the Stable Isotope Lab at the University of Arkansas. Pollock is leading much of the research at the University regarding lithium and lithium extraction.

According to estimates from a U.S. Geological Survey-led study, there could be up to roughly 19 million metric tons of lithium in the saltwater brine of the Smackover formation, which is a porous and permeable geological unit located 8,000 ft. below the surface. The formation extends underneath multiple southern states. The study estimated that if the amount of lithium predicted to be below southwestern Arkansas is processed for commercial use, it would meet the projected 2030 world demand for lithium in car batteries nine times over.

Pollock described that the need for more transportable power is greater than ever before. In addition to trends in the electric vehicle industry, the exponential growth of artificial intelligence and data centers means sourcing energy will be the question at the heart of powering the future.

Energy companies, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Koch Technology Solution, and Standard Lithium, are working on plans to build processing facilities that are operational by the end of the decade.

“Yes, we’re going to have plant operators, but we’ll also need truck drivers, we’ll need an accountant, you know, we’ll need a grocery store. And so, I believe it’s going to have a tremendous impact.”

Pollock is researching a process called direct lithium extraction (DLE), which would extract lithium from the saltwater brine, which is essentially very salty water, thousands of feet below the surface and return the rest back into the formation. He said the waste would be minimal.

Potential locations for the facilities include Magnolia and El Dorado.

Questions still remain about the exact impact the process and industry would have on the people living in the communities where the facilities are being planned.

The first Arkansas Lithium Summit was in February of 2024.

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By Jackson Stoever

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    BERLIN, Vermont (WPTZ) — What started as a family tradition to get his kids in the holiday spirit turned into an opportunity for former fire chief Bryan Nykiel to serve his neighbors in a new way.

For the last 16 years, Nykiel has transformed his own backyard into this must-see Halloween-themed display. Now, he and his family use it as a festive backdrop to host a food drive for the Salvation Army’s annual “Pack the Pantry Food & Funds Drive.”

On Saturday, Oct. 25, you can walk the haunted grounds and bring along non-perishable goods to donate to a cause that saves lives.

“We don’t want to get to a point where we want friends and neighbors choosing between heat and food or medicine and food,” said TJ Michaels, who organizes Pack the Pantry.

Nykie’s kids, now older, help their dad put on the show and give back to the town they grew up in.

If you miss out, Pack the Pantry will also be collecting donations Nov. 20 through Nov. 22.

The Nykiel family said that if you are brave enough, to come knocking next year too for new surprises.

“We just love to give back to our community, and this is just something that we’ve decided that we’re going to do every year,” Nykiel said. “It will be bigger and better every year.”

The Nykiel family invites you to stop by on Saturday and donate non-perishable food items. The haunted tour runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at 388 Paine Turnpike in Berlin.

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By Hannah Hilyard

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Ascension Wisconsin is implementing a new safety measure for mothers who have recently given birth by providing orange alert bracelets to help first responders identify post-birth complications. The initiative, which began this month, requires all new mothers to wear the bright orange band for six weeks after delivery at all Ascension Wisconsin hospitals.

“I think there are some pretty important ones that come up in the postpartum period. Preeclampsia is one of them,” said Dr. Emily Lombard, OBGYN at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s.

Medical professionals identified key post-birth complications, including infection, blood clots and increased bleeding as primary concerns for new mothers.

The orange wristband serves as a visual alert for medical professionals and emergency responders, particularly in situations where mothers may be unable to communicate their condition.

“Sometimes moms aren’t able to exactly let them know what’s going on, especially if they are home and become unconscious. If they have a seizure and someone comes upon them, this will help,” Lombard said.

Bell Ambulance Client Services Representative Kayla Pacourek emphasized the bracelet’s importance for emergency response.

“It rings an alarm in our head to know what to look for,” she said. “It gives us questions to ask in our assessment that are more direct towards postpartum complications and also helps with transport decisions.”

Nurses provide the orange bracelet to mothers and their newborns during hospital discharge, with instructions to wear it for the following six weeks.

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By Kara Peters

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    OAK RIDGE, North Carolina (WXII) — Trick-or-treating fun is happening all week, but the big day is Friday, Halloween. For most families, it’s all about costumes, candy and fun.

But for one Triad mother, it’s a reminder of her daughter who did not return home.

It has been three years since Ayonna Suttles lost her daughter, Aliyah Thornhill. A pain she has learned to live with through poetry, letters and bittersweet memories.

“You couldn’t have told me that three years I’d be in 2025 without my baby,” Suttles said. “I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Halloween 2022 began like so many others, filled with excitement and joy.

Suttles sent a loving message to Thornhill before she left for trick-or-treating, not knowing it would be her last.

That night, Thornhill and another teen were hit by a car on Haw River Road in Oak Ridge. Thornhill did not survive.

“It’s unfair. It’s unfair because this is the year that I’m supposed to be doing the graduation stuff, I’m supposed to be sending my daughter to prom, and I can’t do that,” Suttles said.

Thornhill was a freshman at Riverside High School in Durham. She was a straight-A student, kindhearted and heavily involved in school theater.

Suttles walked WXII crews through the halls her daughter loved so much, as she returned to Riverside for the first time since Thornhill’s death.

She thanked the theater directors and educators who helped Thornhill’s passion blossom and kept her name and memory alive.

As families get ready for Halloween, Suttles’ message is simple: Be careful.

“If you see kids, stop. Put down your cellphones for one day, turn them off for an hour if you have to,” Suttles said. “It hurts. It hurts that my daughter is no longer here, but when you realize the impact that this 14-year-old girl made, I’m just proud to be her mom. “

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By Lily Coleman

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — Emergency crews rushed to Acrisure Stadium Saturday night after a man working on the main scoreboard fell off, landing almost 50 feet below.

It happened around 10 p.m. Saturday.

According to Pittsburgh Public Safety officials, first responders were told by other employees that the man fell about 50 feet from the main scoreboard to a mid-level catwalk area.

Crews were able to get to the man, stabilize him, and load him into a Stokes basket before lowering him to a waiting ambulance using a rope system.

The man, who has not been identified, suffered serious injuries primarily to his lower body. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital and was last said to be in critical condition.

A spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Steelers later stated that the worker was installing production equipment at the time of the incident.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to the Steelers organization and Acrisure Stadium officials to learn more about the incident.

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By Alan Shope

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — Staff at the historic Folly Theater are cleaning up after a costly and frustrating break-in that left the 125-year-old downtown landmark badly damaged.

Police say vandals broke into the nonprofit theater early Friday morning, smashing through the ADA entrance and wreaking havoc inside the building.

“They smashed our ADA door and went into the building,” said Cassidy Manetta, the theater’s marketing manager. “They broke a bunch of our monitors and deployed six or seven fire extinguishers, which is really what caused the most damage because it got into our HVAC system.”

The thick residue from the extinguishers spread through the entire facility, forcing the cancellation of this weekend’s scheduled show.

Crews expect cleanup to take at least a week and the full cost of repairs could reach $300,000.

“We do not know the extent of all the damage yet or what is missing,” Manetta said. “We haven’t really been able to survey it properly.”

The Folly, known for bringing affordable performing arts to Kansas City, now faces an unexpected pause in programming.

Manetta said the theater hopes to reopen in time for its next show on Nov. 1.

“We know for sure that some liquor was smashed — they threw red wine up the walls to the ceiling,” she said. “It just stinks, you know? Why do this to a place that’s just trying to bring arts to the community?”

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By Rachel Williams

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    WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPBF) — As the government shutdown hits just over the three-week mark with no resolution in sight, thousands of federal employees continue to work without pay. While the missed payday has added financial strain for many, one local auto repair shop is stepping in to lend a hand.

Midas Automotive Service in West Palm Beach is offering help to federal employees who are struggling to afford car repairs during the shutdown.

“The last thing I want is someone to not be able to get to work because their car broke down and compare that to putting food on the table,” said owner Ron Katz.

This isn’t the first time Katz has stepped up to support government workers. During the 35-day shutdown in 2018-19, he said the shop helped about 10 to 15 federal employees get back on the road.

“We’ve fixed cars for free, we’ve done oil changes, we helped finance people if it’s a big repair. We just go above and beyond for these people who are not getting paychecks right now. I remember one lady came in with a water pump, which is a $1,200 repair, and she was working at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, and she had no way of getting back and forth. We took care of it, and it worked out with her,” Katz said. “Bring the car in and let’s see what we can do to keep them on the road until they start getting a paycheck.”

Federal workers at Palm Beach International Airport say transportation costs are becoming a growing financial concern as the shutdown drags on, making small community resources like this one increasingly vital.

Katz said this time around, the shop has put a system in place to verify who qualifies for assistance.

“I am going to need to see their government ID, and I’m also going to ask for their last paycheck so I can make sure they’re still employed and that it’s verifiable. Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous people that would try to get repairs for free and that’s not fair to us or for the other people who work for the government and who are without a paycheck right now,” Katz said.

As for who’s covering the costs, Katz said the responsibility falls on him.

“I am a franchisee; I’m paying for everything, I’ll work out with the customer to figure out, depending on each repair, how it’s going to be handled. But as far as when we do the oil change and it’s something we can do, I will handle that,” he said.

Katz said Midas of West Palm will continue to offer help to federal employees until the government reopens.

“It’s not a Democrat or Republican problem. It’s a people problem right now, and we have people working who are not collecting a paycheck,” Katz said.

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