Author: CNN Newsource

By Ross Guidotti

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A South Park man says several people protested in front of his house, claiming someone who lives there is promoting animal abuse because they work at PPG Paints Arena. But the homeowner said the protesters were there for all the wrong reasons.

Lou Ruzzi and his family have been living in South Park for decades on a road where nothing much happens. But late last week, he was on a walk and coming home from that walk, he found loud animal rights protesters in front of his house.

“They said they were protesting against the rodeo that was being held at PPG Arena coming up in February,” Ruzzi said.

And the reason they picked Ruzzi’s home in particular? One of his daughters works at the arena.

“She’s an usher there. She has nothing to do when it comes to scheduling these types of events,” Ruzzi said.

KDKA learned the group protesting is the Christian Animal Rights Association.

“Their rationale was that they wanted to get to the employees basically because they weren’t getting what they wanted from management,” Ruzzi said.

Ruzzi says not only were these people protesting a part-time usher at PPG Paints Arena, but his daughter doesn’t even live with him.

KDKA reached out to Matthew King, who heads up the Christian Animal Rights Association. He confirmed his group was responsible for the protest and also confirmed its goal of raising awareness about alleged animal cruelty at rodeos.

“You are talking to the wrong person. You are going after the wrong people. Go protest at the PPG Arena,” Ruzzi said.

“Stay out of the neighborhoods. We don’t want you here,” Ruzzi 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 Hannah Kliger

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A community care van is rolling through South Brooklyn neighborhoods to deliver case management and check-in services to people facing criminal charges while out on pretrial supervised release.

On Livonia Avenue, community navigator Troy Johnson climbs behind the wheel of the van, which functions as a mobile office for Brooklyn Justice Initiatives staff. Johnson has worked as a navigator since May, visiting people on supervised release to help them comply with court orders.

“I spent some time in prison. I realized during that period that, no, I’m not a bad boy,” Johnson recalled. “So I’m always looking for opportunities, even outside of the workplace, to help others.”

The pilot program targets Brooklyn residents who have previously struggled to meet the terms of their release. Instead of requiring them to travel to an office, the van brings services directly into their neighborhoods.

Curtis Huggins, Director of Community Initiatives at the Brooklyn Justice Initiative, said participants receive far more than basic check-ins.

“They essentially get a mobile office without having to come into the office to complete their check-ins, get wraparound services, they get provisions, care packages, clothing items,” Huggins said.

The initiative is a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. City officials say research shows that increasing compliance with supervised release conditions can lower recidivism.

“Supervised release participants return to court at a rate of 87%. And so the city has really been focused on looking at the flip side of that statistic. How do we make it much higher? How do we serve people better?” said Jordan Montoya, executive director of Diversion and Transition at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

During a stop in Midwood, Johnson met with 39-year-old Allen Keller, who received a care package filled with snacks while checking in with his case worker.

“It’s been helpful in the sense that it kept me out of jail,” Keller said. “My counselor… is helping me rebuild bridges with my family members. And that is a tremendous strain in my life.”

The van primarily serves parts of South Brooklyn considered transit deserts and focuses on participants 35 and older, many of whom juggle work, child care, or responsibilities to aging parents.

“These are individuals who are parents, community members who have a variety of obligations outside of the court system. And we allow them to be able to maintain, engage with that,” Huggins said.

In some cases, workers transport participants to their new Brownsville hub on Livonia Avenue, where they can access additional services such as hot meals and free haircuts before their court appointments.

“We can potentially assist them in whatever it is that they need in their life to put it back on track,” Montoya said.

The three-year pilot aims to give participants a stronger shot at a second chance while leaders study whether the approach can help build safer communities across Brooklyn.

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 Daniel Wilkerson

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — For seven years, a metro Atlanta wife and mother of five says she knew something wasn’t right with her body, but it took years and a new doctor to finally get answers that changed her life.

Jen Stone is a stay-at-home mom who makes time for fitness, often working out alongside her husband, Greg. On this day, she’s exercising alone at an all-female gym in Gwinnett County, something she says has become part of learning to take care of herself.

“You have to find the time for yourself,” Stone said. “That’s what I’ve been learning over the past couple of years.”

Stone says for years her body sent warning signs that were hard to ignore. One of the most troubling symptoms, she said, was painful intercourse with her husband. When she brought her concerns to her doctor, she says she was repeatedly told nothing was wrong.

“My previous OB-GYN had been gaslighting me about the symptoms and the things that I was feeling,” Stone said. “Telling me that I wasn’t going through what I was going through.”

The symptoms continued to pile up: hot flashes, irritability, joint pain, hair thinning, and brain fog. Stone says the physical and emotional toll followed her home and affected her family life.

“It wasn’t because I was trying to make them suffer,” she said. “It was because I didn’t have the knowledge of what it is I was supposed to be feeling.”

Her search for answers eventually led her to a new doctor and a diagnosis she says brought both relief and tears.

“When I found out, at 38, I cried in her office,” Stone said.

Dr. Sherika Newman, founder of Doctor in the Family, says Stone’s experience is far from rare. Newman explains that Stone was diagnosed with perimenopause, the stage before menopause when hormone levels begin to change.

“We’re recently discovering that perimenopause can start in your mid-30s,” Newman said.

For Black women, Newman says the experience can be even more challenging. Studies show Black women may remain in perimenopause for about 10 years, compared to six to eight years for others, and symptoms can look different.

“One uncommon symptom is frozen shoulder,” Newman said.

Stone says the biggest improvement has been at home. She now speaks openly with her children, both her daughters and her sons, about perimenopause and what her body has gone through.

“I’m an open book with my kids,” she said. “I want them to be informed and to be able to make informed decisions as life progresses for them.”

After years of struggling without answers, Stone says she hopes sharing her story helps break a cycle for future generations.

Dr. Newman says there are now more than 70 known symptoms associated with perimenopause, which can be physical, emotional or both, and she encourages women to advocate for themselves if something doesn’t feel right.

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 Nicky Zizaza

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The instructor of a water aerobics class in Baltimore calls the non-traditional workout “Big Energy,” and attendees say it is helping them start the new year strong.

WJZ’s Nicky Zizaza jumped into the pool to kick off our Health Watch series, Fitness Remix 2026.

The water aerobics class is held inside a Baltimore pool at Digital Harbor High School. The class is breaking stereotypes about water aerobics.

The music is loud; the energy is high, and the man leading the class has turned fitness into a movement.

“I will give 100 percent. Big energy,” the group chants before class begins.

Terrell Talbert did not seek out water aerobics. The class found him in June 2025. Now he is known simply as Big Energy, a name he proudly embraces.

“I was subbing for another instructor, and she asked me to sub a water aerobics class,” Talbert said. “I thought it would be something different than the normal classes I teach.”

That something different quickly became something he fell in love with.

“I did it, and I fell in love instantly,” Talbert said. “It is great for your joints.”

Talbert transformed the class into an energetic faith-based experience.

“When I first started, I was going easy,” he said. “Then I was like, no, I’m Mr. Big Energy. I have to put my own spin on it, my own love for it, and my own passion, and that’s when I said I’m gonna change the music, change the moves, and we just gonna go all the way Big Energy.”

Participants said the impact goes far beyond the pool.

Dr. James Darby admits he was skeptical at first.

“I kind of strayed from workouts because I have a really bad ankle injury,” Darby said. “I cannot run anymore or do impact workouts.”

He started attending about three months ago.

“I have gone from 397 pounds to 357 pounds,” Darby said.

For others, the class represents a turning point before medical intervention.

“I was considering surgery,” said attendee Nicole Pulley. “He told me to come to him first. I have lost 17 pounds since I started.”

Talbert said the focus is not just physical fitness but mental health.

“When I look at fitness, I look at mental health,” he said. “When you are stressed and moving your body, that dopamine rush goes straight to your head.”

Despite the intensity, the workout is gentle on the body.

“There is no swimming,” Talbert said. “Your head never goes underwater.”

He said it is especially helpful for people with joint pain.

“If you have knee problems, this will not make them worse,” he said.

Talbert also brings something personal to the pool.

“I have been a big guy all my life,” he said. “Big jokes and fat jokes do not bother me.”

What he has created is more than a workout class. It is a community where people feel strong, supported, and seen.

“This is more than water aerobics,” Talbert said. “It is a full experience.”

Talbert teaches two classes a week, and all are welcome to sign up. Since starting, he has become a viral fitness sensation. He also leads step classes, dance classes, and a fitness boot camp.

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 Megan Mannering

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    FALMOUTH, Kentucky (WLEX) — In November 2025, LEX 18 introduced you to Goose, the no-eyed Kentucky farm dog competing for the People’s Choice Pup award in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farm Dog of the Year competition. Now, his owner Lindie Huffman announced that Goose has won the prize!

Huffman stated on Facebook that Goose is excited for the dog food and she added that they made new friends for life through the program.

Original Story:

From herding and protecting livestock to handing out comfort, every farm has a four-legged lifeline. In Pendleton County, a 12-year-old Red Heeler is putting his farm on the map.

Goose is one of three finalists for the People’s Choice Pup award in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farm Dog of the Year competition, and he’s using his newfound celebrity to send a powerful message.

“Goose was introduced in the summer of 2013, and it was a natural fit,” said Lindie Huffman, Goose’s owner and the Pendleton County Extension Agent. “He was the very first puppy that ran up to me and he snatched the harness from my hands and took off with it, and I think in that moment I knew that he was mine…and I was his.”

He knows the land as well as the generations of farmers who came before him.

For a dozen years, Goose has brought in cattle, followed rows during tobacco planting, and “supervised” the greenhouse. Since the news of his Farm Dog recognition, Huffman said he’s been getting a lot of traction.

“It’s not going to his head too bad yet,” Huffman said.

The honor is well deserved, but the true measure of Goose’s impact is found in the hearts of his humans.

“Because he was right at that transition of my life, the transition of my career, the transition of coming home, the transition of getting married, he was at our wedding, he means so much to me because he’s my reason for getting up every day,” Huffman said.

The love for Goose made the decision that much more painstaking for Huffman and her husband Robert when their dog began losing his eyesight in 2021 and developed glaucoma.

“So we tried drops and they didn’t work and we made the tough call to have a double enucleation and remove both of his eyes,” Huffman said. “And we were worried, is he still gonna love the same? Is he still gonna adventure the same? Is he still gonna farm the same?”

In his competition video, Goose answers that question. A voiceover explains, “Now I see it in a different way. I know every turn in the gravel path, every dip in the pasture, and every morning I still walk to the red barn because that’s what farm dogs do.”

When vision faded, instinct and heart stepped forward to lead.

“This life is not about what you’ve lost, it’s about what keeps you going,” Huffman said.

For the no-eyed wonder dog, what keeps him going is simple: the farmers market with Huffman, quiet hours at the county Extension office, morning yoga, a good butt scratch, and the routine of a hardworking farm dog.

“I think Goose’s story teaches people not to give up, and just because we lose something doesn’t mean we’re lost,” Huffman said. “It could be the loss of our sight like Goose…but life keeps going, the world keeps turning, and we have to keep going every single day.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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 WRTV Staff

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — Indianapolis and Lawrence police officers saved two young children from a retention pond after their father drove their car into the water overnight.

According to the Indianapolis Fire Department, the incident occurred at 4000 Pendleton Way, with emergency crews dispatched at 12:03 a.m. The vehicle was found fully submerged about 10 feet down and 15 feet from shore.

Officials said four IMPD officers entered the frigid water without hesitation and pulled out the occupants, a 28-year-old man and two children, ages 8 and 9.

The adult male and the 8-year-old girl were in cardiac arrest when rescued. Officers immediately began CPR on both victims.

The father was transported to Eskenazi Hospital with CPR in progress but died after arrival.

Both children were transported to Riley Hospital for Children and are listed in stable condition.

Four IMPD officers required medical evaluation after the rescue, one was fully submerged during the rescue attempt and three others entered water up to waist level.

City of Lawrence officers assisted in the rescue with rope bags and CPR.

All officers are in good condition.

It remains unclear why the car entered the pond. The incident is under investigation by IMPD.

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 Jeffrey Lindblom

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    BRIGHTON, Michigan (WXYZ) — For some, art is a hobby. But for a group in Brighton, it’s a pathway to possibility.

Work Skills Corporation is proving that a paintbrush, canvas or even a handful of beads can become tools of transformation — helping people with disabilities discover talents they never knew they had.

“I should have found this work sooner,” said Michelle Acevedo, creative arts director for Work Skills Corporation.

Acevedo has spent 11 years doing a job she describes as magical. Her work is like a canvas, painting creative pathways for people with varying disabilities and little by little, chipping away at personal challenges, making what may feel impossible, possible.

“I think you can paint. Everyone can pick up a brush and paint something,” Acevedo said.

Dominic Freni likes to paint. For the past few months, he’s been armed with brushes, beads or buttons, painting lush landscapes among friends and family.

“Keeps my mind going,” Freni said. “Being around the teachers and people and stuff.”

He creates art alongside friends like Emily Meredith, who’s painting colorful patterns on a lion.

“This program is beautiful and the people are beautiful,” Meredith said. “People who have disabilities have different ways of doing things.”

Sam Hatt has found the program transformative.

“My world has opened up a lot more compared to the shell that I once had,” Hatt said. “I love seeing them and seeing them happy… and they in return love seeing me.”

The program creates a supportive environment where participants encourage each other.

“Everyone in here really supports everyone else,” Acevedo said. “Like all of a sudden, you might have someone who’s non-verbal just start talking to someone.”

“It really inspires me,” Freni said.

This is just one of many initiatives the nonprofit has offered for the past 60 years — helping those with mental or physical barriers find work. Everything being made goes on display for purchase.

“It’s the best thing ever to see them get their checks… especially the first check they get,” Acevedo said.

“Thank you very much for this program… it might even inspire other people all across America,” Meredith said.

“I love everyone here like they’re family,” Acevedo said.

The program is leaving a lasting mark on the people it serves, proving that creativity can open doors one brushstroke at a time.

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“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.”

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By Kelsey Jones

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    HOPEWELL, Virginia (WTVR) — A Virginia family has channeled their grief into action after losing their 17-year-old loved one in a pedestrian accident.

Devin Pulver’s family launched Operation Reflect in an effort to prevent similar tragedies as Richmond grapples with a surge in pedestrian deaths.

Pulver, 17, was killed while skateboarding home on Prince George Drive in Hopewell on October 30, 2024.

Police ruled the incident an accident and never charged the driver.

“Devin was wearing dark clothing and the man said he didn’t see him,” Devin’s mother Helen Shinault said. “It’s very important to have on something reflective.”

Through Operation Reflect, Shinault and others distribute reflective vests and encourages pedestrians and cyclists to wear bright, reflective clothing when out at night.

“Every reflective vest I give out brings Devin a little bit closer to me,” Shinault said.

The family’s mission comes as Richmond faces a crisis in pedestrian safety. The city has recorded seven pedestrian deaths in the past month, with the most recent fatality occurring Saturday night when a woman was killed at the intersection of Maury and 19th street.

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula is calling for comprehensive changes to address the issue.

“We cannot accept that losing your life while walking, crossing the street, or heading to a bus stop is just part of living in a city,” Avula said.

Avula believes infrastructure improvements, enhanced enforcement, and encouraging behavior changes are key strategies to reduce fatal crashes.

Devin’s family echoes this multi-faceted approach, noting that accidents result from various factors including distracted driving, GPS reliance, poor street lighting, and pedestrian visibility issues.

“It’s not always the pedestrian, it’s not always the driver either,” the family noted, emphasizing the complex nature of road safety.

Devin’s aunt, Sonya Duer, still struggles with the loss.

“Two weeks before his 18th birthday God decided to take him home,” Duer said. “It’s been hard for us to accept it was his time.”

Since September, Operation Reflect has distributed nearly 100 reflective vests to people they encounter on the street who don’t have proper visibility gear. The family plans to expand their outreach by visiting churches and schools to educate youth about pedestrian safety.

“That’s one less family that will have to bury their child,” Shinault said.

Henrico County also has a reflective vest program.

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.