Author: CNN Newsource

By Bethany Cates

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    GUILFORD COUNTY, North Carolina (WXII) — Caden Sorrell, a 13-year-old Northwest Guilford Middle School student, died a few days after going into cardiac arrest during football practice on Friday, leaving his family and friends devastated.

Vanessa Clark, Sorrell’s older sister, described her brother as “the boy who everyone called their best friend.”

She said, “Caden was an angel from heaven; he was brilliant, sweet, smart, kind; he made everybody around him feel loved.”

Clark said Friday started as a normal day before her world changed.

“I was actually in the middle of Walmart, got the call, my mom called me, and I immediately rushed to him,” she said.

Sorrell had just started football practice, ran a lap around the field, and then went into cardiac arrest.

“He was a picture of health,” Clark said, not understanding why this happened to her brother.

She shared a favorite memory of her brother, who wore the No. 42 for the Northwest Guilford Middle School Vikings and loved the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We were trying to wrestle because I thought I could take him, and I couldn’t. He taught me the hard way that I could not, but it was just the laughter that we shared together,” Clark said.

A family friend, Alan Vaughn, said they are working to raise awareness about the importance of automatic external defibrillators, which can aid in cardiac arrest.

“They’re very expensive; you can’t expect an AED to be in every room, but every little thing like this sometimes it takes to push the awareness,” Vaughn said.

Clark said that while she can no longer wrestle, her last words and memories are what will continue to keep her moving forward.

“I was praying for him, and I hoped that he got better, that he was healed, which he was spiritually,” Clark said. “I’m there for him, and I love him.”

A vigil will be held on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. in honor of Caden.

A GoFundMe has been started to help the family.

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 Allison Petro

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    FLORIDA (WESH) — Two people were arrested for allegedly sexually battering and molesting children who were confined inside the cab of a semi-truck for years, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday.

Uthmeier described the case as one of the most horrific his team has worked on.

The two suspects were identified as Keisha Epps and Tamra Stewart. They were accused of sexually battering, molesting and neglecting four children.

Uthmeier said the children were confined to the cab of a semi-truck for about six years.

The victims included two boys and two girls ranging in age from five to nine years old.

The suspects were on the road nonstop, frequently traveling between Miami and Atlanta.

“This was a rolling prison,” Uthmeier said.

Stewart allegedly sexually abused the two girls. When the boys confronted him or reported the abuse to Epps, they were physically assaulted and injured, Uthmeier said.

The victims were malnourished and were not frequently fed or allowed to shower.

Stewart is facing the following charges:

Two counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority Two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation of a child under 12 Two counts of battery of a child by expelling certain fluids or materials Two counts of child neglect without bodily harm Two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement

Epps is facing the following charges:

Two counts of sexual battery by a person in familial or custodial authority Two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 Two counts of child neglect without bodily harm Two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement Four counts of failure to report child abuse

Uthmeier said Florida has zero tolerance for those who harm children and will seek the death penalty if permitted by law.

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 Jeff Wagner

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Food is arguably the biggest draw of the Minnesota State Fair, but which vendors earn the most money every year?

There’s more than 300 vendors keeping people fed at the Minnesota State Fair. That’s a lot of competition for your cash and the limited space in your stomach.

Sweet Marthas is number one overall by a long shot. Looking a gross revenue data from 2025, those bucket-busting cookies raked in $5.24 million dollars across the vendor’s three booths.

Pronto Pups, also known for having countless locations, is ranked second overall with $2.23 million earned last year.

“We’re dying to try the cheese curds,” said Jill Ackerly, who was visiting with her friend Julia Ward from Colorado. Many would agree with her plan. Mouth Trap Cheese Curds fries up $1.95 million worth of delicious dairy, good enough for third overall.

The Perfect Pickle is fourth overall at $1.7 million. “We just tried the gourmet ones, the ones with cream cheese in the middle,” said fairgoer Himeeka Sunbeeb, a huge fan of the deep friend pickles.

The Corn Roast rounds out the top five at nearly $1.69 million. It sells about 25,000 ears of sweet corn daily.

Another handheld favorite, Fresh French Fries, is in sixth place after earning $1.59 million in 2025.

The American Dairy Association of the Midwest keeps people cool with ice cream in the Dairy Building and All You Can Drink Milk. That slots them in seventh place at $1.39 million.

The Blue Barn anchors West End Market and lands at eight overall, earning $1.23 million.

Many of those vendors have been here for decades. Sweet Marthas started since 1979. Pronto Pups has been on the fairgrounds in 1947.

But some vendors are relative newcomers, and they’re also making a splash.

Que Viet debuted in 2017. Its hefty egg rolls, luscious wontons, and cooling iced coffee helped it earn $1.22 million last year, ninth place overall.

“It’s nice to know that our three items get a spotlight every year,” said Brianna Le, Que Viet’s manager. “We have a dream and that is to be up here with the elite.”

That dream that includes upgrading from their mobile booth to a building on the grounds.

“We apply every year, we want it. It’s all a matter of what we get, what’s available. And we really hope that something like that would be in our near future,” said Le.

Number 10 on the list debuted with bang in 2022. Rick’s Pizza constantly has long lines, thanks to its pickle pie. It earned $1.11 million in 2025.

“It means the world to my family and I,” said co-owner Tristin Ukmar. His doughy enterprise is well known on the State Fair circuit across the country, but staking a claim in Minnesota has special meaning.

“Hopefully one day it’s going to be a staple. We want to be in the same topic in 20, 30, 40 years as the cookie, as the corn, as the cheese curds, all that stuff,” he said.

Much to the surprise of fairgoers we talked with, Peachey’s Baking Company was not one of the top 10 earners in 2025. The popular vendor, well known for its Amish donuts and long lines, added a second trailer this year. Instead of having two points of sale, the vendor now has four. Customers tell WCCO that made the lines move much faster than previous years.

Here’s a quick look at the list of top earners in 2025 based on gross revenue:

1. Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar: $5.24 million 2. Pronto Pups: $2.23 million 3. Mouth Trap Cheese Curds: $1.92 million 4. The Perfect Pickle: $1.7 million 5. Corn Roast: $1.69 million 6. Fresh French Fries: $1.59 million 7. American Dairy Association of the Midwest: $1.39 million 8. The Blue Barn: $1.23 million 9. Que Viet: $1.22 million 10. Rick’s Pizza: $1.11 million

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 Jeff Wagner

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — It’s simple, sweet and oh so popular. The Corn Roast at the Minnesota State Fair attracts thousands of customers each day.

Nearly 9 million acres of corn are planted across Minnesota, but only about 50 acres planted at farm in Monticello will feed hundreds of thousands of people at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.

“It really makes us proud to be able to grow a product that so many people enjoy,” said Paul Nelson. He’s the head grower for Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm, now in the throes of its busiest and most exciting time of year. Untiedt’s has been supplying the corn roast at the fair for more than 20 years.

“Normally you just harvest corn when it’s ripe, but we’re aiming for those 12 days of the fair, and we’re really trying to time it in,” he said.

The sweet corn is planted in May and June, but less than half — about 20 acres — will be harvested for the fair.

“That’s just the insurance plannings we put in to make sure we have enough corn to cover the fair,” said Nelson.

Something you won’t see in the sweet corn fields are combines. That’s because every ear of corn is picked by hand.

“If you pick this with the machine, the machine actually comes in and squeezes the ear, and it busts the tender kernels,” Nelson said. “It just doesn’t make a very pleasant-looking ear. It doesn’t affect the flavor, but it just doesn’t look right.”

Nelson walks the field each morning, sampling about a dozen ears to ensure they’re ready. If the corn isn’t sweet enough, he knows it needs a few more days in the field before getting picked. Nelson has taken a liking to eating fresh, raw corn, although he still enjoys it cooked. No butter or salt is needed for his palette, however.

The corn is picked in the morning then transferred to coolers at their Waverly farm. It’s then trucked to the fairgrounds at night, ready to be roasted the next day. About 25,000 ears are sold on average daily.

There are many types of sweet corn out there. Untiedt’s grows nine of them with variations in the sugar content, size, and the kernel colors.

But just one of them is grown specifically for the fair. It’s called mirai, which Nelson says “is very tender, very sweet. It produces a nice ear that roasts very well for the State Fair roast.”

Untiedt’s connection to the fair was started by the farm’s patriarch, the late Jerry Untiedt, who died in July.

Nelson, his son-in-law, along with several family members now carry on that legacy to satisfy hungry fairgoers for years to come.

“This was (Jerry’s) baby, his pride and joy, and he instilled that in all of us. And for us to continue, it just makes us proud,” Nelson said.

If you can’t make it to the fair, you can still find Untiedt’s special sweet corn at its farm stands, farmers’ markets, and select grocery stores.

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 Liz Crawford

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Days after Aniyah Monroe shared her story with CBS News Philadelphia, we met with her again. This time, we had a happy ending and a wad of cash.

This all started last month when Monroe was carjacked while making an Uber Eats delivery in Northern Liberties. She was on the phone with her grandmother at the time.

“When she got out the car, I heard her scream,” Dollie Monroe told CBS News Philadelphia. “And I was like, that don’t sound good.”

Monroe was OK. Weeks later, she received a letter in the mail from Camden County police saying her car was in an impound lot in Camden, New Jersey. Then she found out it would cost her nearly $900 in towing and storage fees to get it out.

“I should not have to pay for my car that was stolen from me,” Monroe said.

Philadelphia police told CBS News Philadelphia they located the car three hours after it was stolen but didn’t notify Monroe because they thought Camden County police would. Camden County police sent a letter Monroe said she received nearly three weeks later.

Monroe said she ended up borrowing money to get it out last week, all while a big-name celebrity with Philly ties had seen the story and wanted to help. He contacted CBS News Philadelphia, sent over the money and just asked to remain anonymous.

On Monday morning, we delivered the good news.

“Thank you so much because I really appreciate that because you know, people don’t have to help me,” Monroe said.

She showed us a dent in her car and said there was a bunch of garbage inside, and her wallet and daughter’s car seat were gone. Turns out, Monroe says the tow company waived some fees and it cost her around $600. The anonymous donation covered that and then some.

“I went and got my car back. My child is safe,” Monroe said. “I’m good. I don’t have no complaints.”

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 Marissa Armas, S.E. Jenkins

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    TARRANT COUNTY, Texas (KTVT) — Tarrant County commissioners have voted to reduce the number of polling locations.

Commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of fewer polling sites for early voting and Election Day.

The new proposal would slash the number of polling sites from 316 on Election Day in 2022 to 224 this November; however, that’s fewer cuts than what was originally proposed in August.

The elections administrator said these cuts are about efficiency, and Judge Tim O’Hare said the new proposal exceeds the statutory minimum, adding that some locations were changed due to buildings no longer being operable and ADA requirements.

Several poll workers have said they support the plan, saying turnout is typically lower during midterm elections. Opponents say the cuts could make it harder for some voters to get to the polls, particularly in communities of color, and would eliminate some pivotal voting sites like at colleges, universities and community centers.

Dozens of residents spoke out Tuesday against the proposal to eliminate 92 polling sites for the midterm election in November. Public comments went on for more than two hours, and law enforcement escorted one person out for using profanity.

Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons brought up the county’s 2025 redistricting in relation to the polling site reduction. The restricting maps sparked weeks of controversy and criticism from residents, local leaders, and civil rights advocates who called for the process to be halted due to a lack of transparency and potential racial gerrymandering. Commissioner Roderick Miles accused the reduction of polling sites of creating modern-day “poll taxes,” known as a 19th-century voter suppression tool to stop communities of color from voting.

“This is an assault on people’s voting rights,” said Simmons.

Simmons proposed amending the motion to keep the University of Texas Arlington and Tarrant County College Northeast and Southeast campuses as midterm polling locations. It was voted down 3-2 twice.

Higher voter turnout is expected for the upcoming elections, O’Hare said Tuesday night.

Texas law gives each of the state’s 254 counties discretion over how many polling locations to operate. Tarrant County adopted countywide voting in 2019, but the change did not immediately lead to a reduction in polling locations.

Tarrant County currently has 1.3 million registered voters.

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 Keith BieryGolick

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    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — Darren Gamble is walking back toward his RV. It’s parked in the Villages at Roll Hill, near where he grew up.

A woman leans out of her car and curses at him.

“Are you the dude that does haircuts?”

Gamble turns around and smiles.

“Hell yeah,” the woman shouted again. “Keep going.”

Inside the RV, there’s a lawn chair and a cooler. Of course, there’s also a barber chair.

“Home is where you park it” is written on the walls.

Gamble, who goes by Dinero Cuts professionally, started cutting his own hair when he was 10. A few years later, he began cutting his friends. I first met Gamble in Over-the-Rhine, where I was reporting a story about a street photographer documenting what he called “the real Cincinnati.”

“I had a dream,” Gamble told me. “I just wanted to be a famous mobile barber.”

When I ask him if that dream involved an RV, he laughs.

“Not at all,” Gamble said. “Never thought I’d be an RV owner.”

For him, the RV is about more than cutting hair. It’s an opportunity to show people anything is possible — even if your story doesn’t have the best beginning.

“I’ve been shot,” Gamble said. “And I had guns pulled out on me. I had a gun pointed in my face and the person squeezed the trigger. The gun just never went off.”

He says his family lost everything in an apartment fire when he was 12. And tells me that sent him down a bad path.

“You got to start over sometimes,” Gamble said. “Pick up the pieces.”

For him, that meant recommitting to his passion. This time, with an RV. Something that allows him to cut hair at nursing homes. Something he used to do free back-to-school haircuts this summer.

A way to connect with young people who may be facing some of the same struggles he did.

“I’m not saying it’s easy,” Gamble said. “But it’s possible.”

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 Claire Bradshaw

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — Students at Cordill-Mason Elementary in the Blue Springs School District mark their birthdays with a book instead of a snack.

The school’s PTA supports a book vending machine. Each student gets a coin on their birthday to use just like any other vending machine — letting them pick out a brand new book of their choice to take home.

When a student’s birthday arrives, a member of the “Pride Pack,” a selected group of older students, escorts them to the machine to help them choose their book. The vending machine is filled with new books of various reading levels and genres.

Cordill-Mason is the largest elementary school in the Blue Springs School District, with 650 students.

Principal Jaclyn Brunk said the program reflects the school’s core mission.

“Our number one goal at Cordill-Mason is that kids will leave our school and just love to read, have a passion for reading, and that it’s something they find joy in,” Brunk said.

For students, the experience has become a highlight of the school year.

Fifth grader Brooks Tepesch said getting to have a book that is yours is something special.

“I love that when the book drops, you grab it and then you can start like getting it, finding a new world in your imagination,” Tepesch said.

Fifth grader Reece Wood, a member of the Pride Pack, has already helped two students this school year. She said the machine introduced her to one of her favorites.

“Probably that I Survived,” Wood said, when asked about her favorite book from the machine. “I like historical fiction.”

The program relies on community support to keep the machine stocked. The school PTA is actively seeking business sponsors. Those interested in helping can reach out to the Cordill-Mason Elementary PTA.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSHB 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 Tannya Joaquin

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — Punahou Senior and aspiring author Nikhil Wong is bringing inspirational keiki stories to life through books.

As he explains it, “my nonprofit Keiki Stories is dedicated towards telling the stories of mixed race multicultural kids or kids that just feel they don’t fit in.”

His second book “What Would You Wish For” shares the stories of 4 Make-a-Wish Hawaii kids.

At a book signing event for the new children’s book featuring their wishes, Max Okazaki autographed copies and said, “I think it’s just really cool that people will be able to see my wish and, yeah, I, I just think it’s really cool that I get to be a part of it.”

Wong adds, “I hope that like new Wish kids can like use the story and like find out just to learn more about Make A Wish and kind of have a nice story that with characters they can see themselves in, and also it’s to raise a little bit more of awareness about what really what Make-a-Wish is doing.

Wong teamed up with local illustrator Remi Jose to capture the power of a wish on the pages.

“Their resilience and their stories are so inspiring,” says Jose. “In the illustrations to insert Hawaii into it, and to, tell, represent all different types of kids, and their wishes, I just wanted to have them be very vibrant and capture the joy.”

For Max his wish was to go to Mojing Studios in Washington and to go play Minecraft with the developers.

The power of a wish and belonging. An inspiring message that reaches beyond the pages of a children’s book written by a teen.

“I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity to impact people in this way,” says Wong.

50% of book proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish Hawaii. To order a copy of the book, visit keikistories.org

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.