Author: CNN Newsource

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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By Mike Moses

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    MOUNT WASHINGTON, New Hampshire (WMUR) — First responders are warning anyone heading up Mount Washington to be prepared after dozens of hikers were brought down the Mount Washington Cog Railway this weekend.

Andy Vilaine and his team at the Cog Railway helped the hikers who were caught off guard by winter conditions make it back to the base.

“Number of folks we’re in the early stages of hypothermia, confused about what the offerings and availabilities would be at the top in terms of shelter and rides down,” Vilaine said.

New Hampshire Fish and Game also helped some hikers in distress.

“It’s literally life or death situation. If they go up there unprepared,” Lt. Mark Ober with New Hampshire Fish and Game said.

Ober said a group of Canadian hikers in sweatpants and sneakers tried to get into the Summit Building, which is now closed to the public for the season, along with the Mount Washington Auto Road.

“People should not be hiking unless they’re fully prepared. Part of that preparation is doing research and finding out what the conditions are. The Mount Washington Observatory has a great website that tells you up-to-date conditions at the time,” he said.

Grace Mardo and her friends, former SNHU athletes, planned out all the details for their Mount Washington adventure and weren’t surprised to learn of the more than two dozen hiker rescues.

“So we had a lot of layers, gloves, hats, things like that,” one of Mardo’s friends said.

The Mount Washington Cog Railway will help hikers with a ride down if there is room, but it costs the price of a one-way ticket.

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By Giacomo Luca

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    FLORENCE, Kentucky (WLWT) — A quick-thinking teenager grabbed the steering wheel of his father’s car and veered it away from traffic after realizing he was suffering a seizure behind the wheel in Florence on Saturday.

The car crashed through the fence of an outdoor furniture business and came to a rest against the structure of the business’s main building.

The crash happened just after 4 p.m. on Saturday along U.S. 42, near Quadrant Road. Miraculously, no one was injured.

“First of all, I didn’t know what was going on, and I heard a big bang,” said Ray Imhoff, the owner of A Cottage Collection, the business that the vehicle crashed into. “I just thought it was another wreck. You know this is a busy corner. And then I came outside, and there was a car over our ramp.”

While Imhoff was initially shocked to see the damage done to his business, he says that he was happy to learn that the damage done to his business appeared to have saved lives.

Fifteen-year-old Cooper High School student Prazel Magar recounted what happened during the crash to WLWT, saying he noticed the car was veering out of the lane when he turned over and saw his father, who has a history of suffering seizures, had fallen unconscious.

“He just blacked out and then we kept on going,” Magar said. “And then from our right side, cars were coming in. And then I realized I was given three seconds to think, like, what am I going to do?”

Magar said his father’s foot was still on the accelerator, and he knew he had to make a fast decision or someone could have gotten hurt.

In that moment, in an effort to avoid hitting another car, Magar decided to turn the car’s steering wheel off the road, sending it plunging into the lot of A Cottage Collection.

Magar says that his father did not remember the crash and was stunned to learn what had happened when he regained consciousness.

“He was like, ‘Where am I? Where are we?’ And I’m like, ‘What do you mean? We just crashed.’ And he’s like, ‘We crashed? What? Oh, should we reverse?’ And I’m like, ‘No, no, no. We need to call the police.'”

Magar said that he was thankful that he was in the car when the incident happened.

“What if I just didn’t go to the gym?” said Magar. “Or like, what if I didn’t go with him? He would have just tragically … yeah.”

In the future, Magar said he recently obtained his driver’s learner’s permit and will be practicing a lot more behind the wheel over the next few months after this incident.

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By Bradley Davis

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    CASCADE, Colorado (KRDO) — For the last four years, a man from Cascade has built a “haunted forest” attraction at their home and invites students from the RiseUp school in Colorado Springs to take a walk through for free.

“It’s absolutely amazing when you have someone in the community like Kevin who steps up and gets us,” RiseUp Development Officer Kathy Stults said.

Kevin Holt grew up in Southern Colorado and said he was inspired by the late Nick Venetucci and Venetucci Farms. Holt said he carried out a free pumpkin from the farm every year while growing up and wanted to do his part to give back to local children.

“They all stand at the house, and they all collectively say, ‘Thank you, Mr. kevin!’ and it just melts my heart,” Holt said.

Many of the students at RiseUp are non-verbal, and their conditions can make it difficult for them and their families to enjoy Halloween like other children.

“He doesn’t really trick or treat. We’ve tried over the years, but it’s just not his thing,” said Catherine Buckham, whose son, Alexander, goes to RiseUp.

The Haunted Forest gives the students a safe space to have Halloween fun with their parents and teachers. Their field trip is on October 30.

“I get to bring him out here, and he can experience all of these things, at least on whatever level he gets it,” Buckham said.

Holt also hosts a free pumpkin giveaway on October 25. Anyone is welcome to stop by, see his haunted attraction and grab a pumpkin until they’re out.

Holt said it takes him over a month of daily work to set up the haunted forest. He lines the short drive/walk with huge animatronics and other decorations donated by the community.

“It’s one of the most unique, warming feelings that a guy can ever have, that truly, you’re giving back from you’re heart,” Holt said. “Somebody really does appreciate what you do, and they love you.”

His giant skeletons hover above the shoulder of Highway 24 as you head West to Woodland Park, right at the Fountain Avenue intersection, as you head up to the Pikes Peak Highway.

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By Kim Rafferty

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    CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — A Clarksville woman battling stage 4 cancer said she is fighting not just for her life, but for the basic necessities to survive as she faces the potential loss of her food assistance benefits.

Michelle Lockhart was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer affecting her breast, liver, both lungs and spine. In August of 2014, she said doctors discovered brain cancer with 14 tumors.

“It was stage four cancer, breast, liver, both lungs, spine, and then in August of ’24, brain cancer with 14 tumors,” Lockhart said.

The extensive treatments and exhaustion forced her to leave her job two years ago in what she described as a collaborative decision with her medical team.

“It was a collaborative decision between myself and my doctors,” Lockhart said.

Now living on disability in Clarksville, Lockhart said she earns only a third of her previous income. When her disability payments were approved, the amount triggered concern about making ends meet.

“It was accepted and then I was given the amount to which sets off a little bit of a panic. You’re you’re like how am I going to make this? How is this going to work?” Lockhart said.

While her bills remain the same each month, her reduced income sometimes falls short. Most days are spent resting between cancer treatments.

“Today was I feel like a special day. I actually put makeup on today,” Lockhart said.

Despite small victories, her uncertainty continues to grow. Lockhart said she could lose her SNAP benefits next month, adding another layer of stress to her battle.

She said she faces judgment from those who don’t understand her situation, seeing criticism online about people needing government assistance.

“It’s really sad that someone would just look at me and say she is just a lazy human being. I see things, online comments, ‘I wish people would just get a job’ and they don’t understand that someone in my position is not abusing the situation, it is a dire need,” Lockhart said.

Food banks can only provide limited help, and without her benefits, Lockhart said she cannot afford the protein foods her body needs to fight cancer.

She said she’s asking for understanding, emphasizing that behind every number on a government form is someone still fighting to live.

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

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By Hunter Walterman

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    NORTH PORT, Florida (WFTX) — Families are pushing North Port High School to expand bathroom access as the school tries to address ‘security concerns.’

Multiple students and parents told FOX 4 that only two campus bathrooms are open. Stephanie Holtey said she is the mother of a North Port High School freshman with Type 1 diabetes.

Her daughter’s accommodation plan requires bathroom access at all times, Holtey said, because she has to drink a lot of water to keep glucose levels down. But only two of the school’s 16 bathrooms are open, Holtey said.

“It’s really ridiculous,” Holtey said.

A Sarasota County School District spokesperson pushed back on Holtey’s claims. Communications Manager Kelsey Whealy said more than two bathrooms are open.

“All downstairs restrooms are open and there are restrooms of varying capacities located throughout the campus for students to utilize as well,” Whealy said in an email.

Whealy said the high school did close larger bathrooms and restrict access at times. That’s because of “students attempting to congregate in a confined area,” Whealy said.

Lines can form during “peak times,” Whealy said, as staff control the flow of students entering and exiting the bathroom.

Ongoing repairs to the school’s HVAC system and science wing also restricted access, Whealy said.

Holtey said there is a bathroom open in the locker room and nurses office. But students have to be involved in sports to use the locker room bathroom, Holtey said. And there is only one stall in the nurses office.

On Friday, multiple students and parents told FOX 4 that only two bathrooms are available, including sophomore Alex Galloway. Galloway said it can take at least ten minutes to find an available bathroom.

Galloway said he and his brother filmed videos of multiple locked bathrooms on Thursday.

FOX 4 reviewed at least eight videos which appear to show locked bathroom doors across campus – including downstairs in Building Five.

North Port High School sophomores Janessa Rock and Jaylah Tuzicka also told FOX 4 only two female bathrooms are open on campus.

“They shove about 30 to 20 kids inside of one bathroom,” Tuzicka said. “And it always causes problems.”

Holtey said her daughter was late to class multiple times because of the bathroom situation. On Wednesday, Holtey launched a petition to open all of the bathrooms and hire monitors. Almost 700 people signed the petition as of Friday evening.

Holtey said she didn’t speak with anyone from the school about why bathrooms are closed. But she believes the administration is trying to cut down on fighting and vape use.

“You could go in any period of the day and it’s very likely you’ll walk on on a group of people smoking,” Galloway said. “You go into the bathrooms and most of the time the toilets are clogged because there are boxes and vapes in the toilets.”

Whealy said the school recently made changes to deal with security concerns.

“Some larger restroom areas had to be closed at times due to students attempting to congregate in a confined area,” Whealy said.

The school could make future adjustments, Whealy said, including a digital hall pass for students.

North Port High School has more than 2,500 students, according to the district’s website. Sophomore Janessa Rock said students approached administration about the problem, but it doesn’t feel like they are being heard.

“They just act like, well, it’s you guys fault because you smoke,” Rock said. “When really it’s only a little population of the kids.”

“But they try to make it seem like it’s all of us,” Rock said. “So they group us together, it’s really frustrating.”

Shortly before FOX 4’s story aired on Friday, one parent shared an automated voice message from North Port High School Principal Shannon Fusco.

“Every student deserves a quick and safe access to restrooms throughout the day,” Fusco said. “There are multiple ones open in different areas.”

“We are opening more, and they are monitored,” Fusco said. “We expect that students access restrooms only for their intended purpose.”

FOX 4 asked Holtey what she thinks about the school opening more restrooms.

“More bathrooms? Great,” Holtey said. “All bathrooms? Necessary.”

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By Christiana Ford

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    Michigan (WXYZ) — If you ever felt lost listening to kids talk these days, you’re not alone. Generation Alpha is constantly introducing new words into the mix, stumbling up both parents and teachers. But we’ve got your back.

Today’s class is in session and we’re learning to speak fluent Gen Alpha.

Our instructors: Physical Education teacher Aidan Warzecha and Seventh Grader Hadly Lesnew.

“Being the middle school, we got 900 kids here. We have over 50 in every PE class here, so I’m constantly around them,” Mr. Warzecha said.

Today’s lesson: translating the ever-evolving Middle School Dictionary. According to Mr. Warzecha, the top-tier terms are ‘clock it’, ‘rage bait’, ‘Huzz’, and their ultimate favorite: ‘Six Seven’.

“‘Six, seven’ is the most. I hear ‘clock it’ now recently a ton I see ‘clock it,'” Mr. Warzecha said. “Before you can even instruct. Once you say ‘six’, you know it’s seven, and they are going to erupt.”

What does it mean”

“I believe it came from a basketball player, the Ball family, LiAngelo Ball came up with a song of it, and then I heard that they asked how tall he was and they’re like ‘idk maybe 6 or 7′”, Mr. Warzecha said.

“I think it really popped off when a kid, Mason, said ‘6-7,'” Hadly said.

And just when you thought you had those, the kids hit you with a new one: 41, with the opposite hand motion. And then Bop, that’s like someone who’s had multiple girlfriends or boyfriends.

“It’s like ‘you’re a bop,'” Hadly said, demonstrating how to say it.

Got it. Don’t be a bop. And then there’s Italian Brain Rot.

“It’s like characters, so if you look up-there’s like Brr Brr Patapim, Tung Tung Tung Sahur, Ballerina Cappucina,” Hadly said.

Those are random AI characters over Italian music, and then, there’s perhaps the strangest one, which means nothing.

“It’s just like something people like to say they’ll just like go around and be like ‘stop digging in ya butt, twin,'” Hadly said. “Random stuff on the internet.”

“‘Huzz’ is like a new one as well. I hear it. I got some mixed emotions. What I think it means is like crush,” Mr. Warzecha said. “Maybe next week I’ll be told a new one from one of the students but I learn from them, and right now these are the main ones I’m hearing for sure.”

Translation: just smile, nod and clock it.

“Advice for the parents, I would say, just if you’re hearing any of these different words, let’s make sure we kinda ask the meaning,” Mr. Warzecha said. “We don’t want our kids going around saying things that they don’t know the meaning of it and also that the meaning is good, something we want to be sharing out. For sure.”

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