Author: CNN Newsource

By Tori Mason

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    Colorado (KCNC) — As drought conditions worsen and new water restrictions take effect, Aurora is pushing residents to rethink their lawns. The city is even offering money to help.

Through its Grass Replacement Incentive Program, or GRIP, Aurora Water is paying residents to replace traditional turf and replace it with more sustainable landscaping.

“The ubiquitous water-guzzling grass is Kentucky bluegrass,” said Diana Denwood, Aurora Water’s conservation supervisor.

She says that type of grass requires about 28 inches of additional water each year beyond natural rainfall to survive.

By comparison, water-wise landscapes, made up of native plants, shrubs and mulch, can cut water use dramatically, sometimes requiring little to no supplemental watering.

To encourage that shift, Aurora is offering rebates through GRIP:

Up to $3 per square foot for traditional water-wise landscaping 50 cents per square foot for native, low-water grass

Denwood says one common misconception is that the most water-conscious option is to cover a yard entirely in rock or artificial materials, often called “zeroscaping.” But she warns that approach can actually create new problems.

“It contributes to the urban heat islands. We don’t want to see a landscape that’s devoid of plants and has a heat absorbing rock, or even worse, potentially rubber,” Denwood says.

The GRIP program is designed to help offset the cost of replacing turf with drought-tolerant alternatives that are also lower maintenance and better suited for Colorado’s climate.

Projects must be approved before installation and rebates are paid after completion.

Switching landscapes still require water upfront.

Denwood says new native or water-wise grass requires an establishment period of about four weeks, when it needs more frequent watering to take root. After that, the difference is significant.

“Just like any kind of turf grass during a normal year, we do a permit. Now this year, because we’re in drought Stage 1, you’re not allowed to do a Kentucky bluegrass lawn, so we’re not issuing permits for that,” said Denwood. “But we will still absolutely issue a permit for doing a native or water-wise grass, and we’re really happy to see people do that.”

City officials say participation is picking up as restrictions take hold.

“We’re getting about five new applications a day,” Denwood said. “That’s a significant increase compared to this time last year.”

Still, funding is limited, and not every project gets completed.

At Nick’s Garden Center, the change is already showing up in what customers are buying.

“I was lucky if I could sell a yucca to someone 20 years ago…now I show them a yucca, and they’re down,” said horticulturist Colette Haskell.

Haskell says more customers are coming in specifically asking for drought-tolerant plants, often with city-provided lists in hand.

“We get customer after customer saying, ‘I don’t know what this plant is, can you show me?'”

Even as demand for water-wise plants grows, traditional lawns aren’t disappearing overnight.

Haskell says some customers are still buying Kentucky bluegrass, despite restrictions and rising temperatures.

The city offers support, including a landscape design program, in-person and online classes, the GRIP Manual and staff ready to answer your questions.

For more information about GRIP visit auroragov.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.

By Hannah Kliger

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    NEW YORK (WCBS, WLNY) — Ismael Ox survived an attack that left him without a hand.

Now, the Brooklyn-based para athlete is celebrating a series of victories, from overcoming homelessness to getting his American citizenship.

“I never feel disability” You might walk by a park in Bed-Stuy and see Ox, 25, training in taekwondo. No stadium lights, no sponsors, just sheer determination. But look a little closer, and you’ll see what a fighter really looks like.

At just 11 years old, in his village in Niger, Ox tried to save his neighbors from a grenade launched by members of the militant group Boko Haram.

“I tried to find a way to throw it away from everybody, so everybody will not get like dying or injured. So before I throw it, it explode. But everybody survived. It’s just my hand,” Ox said.

He lost his right hand, but didn’t quit his sport. Instead, he learned to adapt.

“I never feel disability or maybe something missing or anything,” he said.

Rain or shine, he’s chasing a dream most people would have given up on long ago. Today he’s a para athlete in one of the most competitive adaptive sports: taekwondo.

In an interview translated from French, his coach Ali Amadou called him “a diamond in the rough.”

Paralympic dreams Then came another fight. Ox arrived in the United States alone at 17 and was homeless for weeks with nothing but a dream. That persistence paid off. He went through the foster care system, was adopted by a loving family, and last year became an American citizen.

“I just so happy. I don’t know how to express it. Just one big emotion to make you excited, make you feel good, make you feel like these great people and you are part of them,” Ox said.

Filmmaker Chris Chu has been documenting his journey.

“Every experience that he’s had, he’s never made it like a problem that holds him back. It only just motivates him. And he never used as an excuse,” Chu said.

Ox is supported by a loyal community of friends and athletes he’s managed to build in his new home.

“Not just that you have that dream, but that you commit to it through your actions every single day,” said friend Jan Avendano.

At tournaments across the globe, he’s raking in medals, preparing for his shot at Paralympic gold. He’s now qualified to compete for Team USA and is hoping to make his Paralympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

“It’s just amazing to be part of this big society and be with all these people and then be able to represent the country I wanted to be in since I was young,” Ox said.

Perhaps a reminder that the strongest fighters are often built off the mat.

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 Katie Morse

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    LOCKPORT, New York (WKBW) — A Lockport restaurant owner opened his doors on a holiday to fulfill a dying man’s last wish to feed the hospice nurses who cared for him.

Ken Ozimek recently lost his older brother, Frank Ozimek, to cancer. Frank spent six weeks at Niagara Hospice in Lockport, where he bonded with the nursing staff. Before he died, he asked his brother to make sure the nurses were fed for Easter.

Ken called around to find a restaurant that could fulfill the request, but everywhere was closed for the holiday. He eventually reached out to Tommy Milani, the owner of Sub Delicious on Locust Street.

When Milani heard the request, he agreed to help.

“I said absolutely, whatever you need, Ken,” Milani said. “They do an amazing job there. They’re all saints.”

Milani put his own holiday plans on hold, opened the restaurant, and sent pizzas to the entire nursing staff at the hospice facility.

“He was kind enough to push back Easter to him, put everything aside, open his restaurant, and make us food for the whole building down there,” Ozimek said.

Ozimek described his brother as someone who looked like a “big bad biker guy” straight out of the band ZZ Top, but who had a generous heart.

“But you could come up to him, say I’m cold, he’d take the shirt off his back and give it to them,” Ozimek said.

Ozimek said his family is incredibly grateful for the way Milani helped honor his brother’s memory.

“To me, it means the world to see that kindness, that greatness spread,” Ozimek said. “And I hope when people see this story, they take it and say, why can’t we do this, and spread joy and kindness to each other.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WKBW’s editorial team 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 Taylor Epps

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    CECIL COUNTY, Maryland (WMAR) — April is Autism Acceptance Month, and one Cecil County family is celebrating by marking a major milestone.

As of Easter 2026, Tiffany and Caleb Brown have visited all 50 states, spreading autism awareness along the way.

From Maryland to Montana to Minnesota, the adventurous mother-son duo has been sharing their journey on social media along the way.

They’ve been traveling since Caleb was a baby and realized this was an attainable goal and went for it. They’re also aiming to hit 50 countries this year.

“I’m here to encourage others because autism doesn’t stop the show; he goes and travels and lives his best life with autism,” Dr. Tiffany Brown said.

Caleb was diagnosed with autism in 2019 at 3 years old.

“I was devastated to hear the news. I remember the doctor telling me, I couldn’t believe it,” Tiffany Brown said.

Tiffany had always been a big traveler, and that didn’t stop when Caleb was born or diagnosed. She kept traveling with him, learning how to pivot and adapt to his needs.

“He can be overstimulated; I have to take that into account, and that happens whenever. It happens, so you just have to be prepared,” Tiffany Brown said.

They’ve written a book and started Autism Spectrum Adventures on social media to inspire other parents to travel.

“I want parents to understand that they can do it; take your time and plan the trip,” Tiffany Brown said. “We love to cruise; we’ve been on about 16 cruises. That’s an easy way.”

Caleb also wears a sunflower lanyard when traveling to let people know he’s living with autism. He’s also a fan of upgrading to first class.

“The comfortable one, it was so nice. I was so happy for that! It was really good for me,” Caleb Brown said.

The family travels to see the world and show others what is possible for a child like Caleb.

“You can travel with an autistic person; autistic people have feelings. They are so special, very special people, and I wouldn’t change anything about my child,” Tiffany Brown said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team 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 WRAL News staff

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    WENDELL, North Carolina (WRAL) — A Wendell woman was accused of failing to notify the state about the death of a child who was under her care in 2024, according to arrest warrants.

Tamika Jones Fowler, 47, was arrested Tuesday after Wendell police said she failed to report the death of a child in December 2024 to the Department of Health and Human Services, while also running an unlicensed child care facility at the same time.

Wendell police said their investigation into Fowler began after a report of an unresponsive child on Dec. 5, 2024. Officers determined the five-month-old child died in their sleep.

A further investigation found that Fowler was operating a daycare with a license, along with other child welfare violations, but she was not charged in the death of the infant.

WRAL News reached out to Fowler’s employer, Holly Hill Hospital in Raleigh, to ask about her employment status.

A hospital spokesperson said Fowler was placed on administrative leave after learning of her arrest.

“There are no records of any incidents, allegations or complaints involving this individual at Holly Hill Hospital, and the matter you are referencing did not occur at a Holly Hill facility,” the hospital spokesperson said.

The arrest warrant also indicates that in April 2024, Fowler was caring for more than five children at the home, all younger than the age of six.

In the same month, she allegedly failed to make records, other than financial records, of that child care facility available to the DHHS.

The warrant also stated that in April 2024, neither Fowler nor a licensed caregiver was present at the home.

Wendell police charged her with three misdemeanor counts of child welfare violation and two counts of child welfare unlicensed violations.

Fowler’s bond was set at $10,000, and she is expected to appear in court on May 5 in Wake County.

WRAL News reached out to the DHHS for comment. The department said that it is aware of the situation and cannot comment on investigations or possible investigations.

The statement continued:

The department said child care facilities licensed by the DHHS-DCDEE follow applicable child care requirements and are visited, at a minimum, once annually, during visits by DCDEE consultants.

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 Tracy Johnke

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    LAUREL, Maryland (WTOP) — A Maryland man faces sex trafficking and prostitution charges after his April 1 arrest at a Laurel home.

Robert Eakins, 31, was also wanted in connection with an armed robbery in Charles County.

Police said the sex-trafficking investigation started two to three weeks earlier, when an anonymous tipster said a woman at the house was being pressured into sex work.

They also said Eakins was taken into custody without incident, but that he first attempted to evade officers by ducking into a crawl space under a porch.

Footage from a body camera shows officers removing a panel from the porch, and Eakins emerging from the opening to be detained.

An emergency response team made up of Laurel and Greenbelt police officers received assistance from a drone while executing a search warrant on Eakins’ home and locating the alleged victim.

Prior to the April 1 raid, the drone’s infrared camera recorded someone leaving the house and heading to a nearby parking lot, Capt. Stephen Ivory told WTOP.

A detective sent to talk to the person identified her as the alleged sex-trafficking victim who was there to meet a client. Police said they got her away safely and reunited her with her family.

The video the Laurel Police Department released to the public includes drone footage showing several officers approaching the house and eventually taking Eakins away.

Drones are “relatively new technology for us,” Ivory said.

He said that as more operators are trained and receive FAA certification to pilot the drones, police in Laurel are beginning to use them more frequently. But right now, they are used only for preplanned operations, providing an additional vantage point for the officers on the ground.

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 Tom Dougherty

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — One person has died and at least two people are missing after a partial parking garage collapse in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Police said emergency crews are searching for at least two people trapped. One construction worker was rushed to an area hospital, where police said he later died.

Reports of the building collapse came across dispatch shortly after 2 p.m., Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said.

The seven-story parking garage is located at 3000 Grays Ferry Avenue. Thompson said the building is compromised and crews are working on stabilizing the structure before resuming search and rescue operations.

“We have the right people on location to get this job done,” Thompson said. “It’s going to take some time because we have to stabilize this building for the safety of everyone involved.”

Thompson would not comment on how many people are missing when asked during a press conference.

Chopper 3 was live over the scene, showing part of the garage that had collapsed. The collapse appears to have happened on the first floor of a parking garage under construction.

A witness who was on her lunch break told CBS News Philadelphia that the collapse “sounded like a train falling.”

“It was just a whole bunch of noise, and then I turned around, and there was a whole bunch of debris,” she said. “You just see everybody running over, all the construction workers. … Looked up and you see the crane halfway up, and it started to come back down. But there was nothing on the crane.”

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia website, the garage is being built to expand employee parking. Before its construction, however, many people in the community sought to stop the project, citing issues with traffic, pollution and health risks to the neighborhood.

CBS News Philadelphia has reached out to CHOP and is waiting to hear back.

A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections said they have an inspector headed to the scene.

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 Scott Noll

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    CLEVELAND (WEWS) — Newly released videos and records raise more questions about how life and death emergencies are handled inside the Cuyahoga County jail.

According to county records, Jennifer Wade was found unresponsive and naked inside her cell in the jail’s mental health unit on Feb. 23, 2025.

According to a report on the incident, a corrections officer noticed Wade in the same position on the floor of her cell just before 4 a.m.

The officer wrote that she called Wade’s name and believed “I saw movement.”

About nine minutes later, two officers walked to Wade’s door, called a nurse and said Wade may have been pretending to be unconscious.

According to a county report, Wade had a history of acting unconscious or sleeping when she wasn’t.

Records show the nurse arrived three minutes later, entered Wade’s cell and called for additional help.

On the body camera video, a nurse is heard asking for help rolling Wade over.

“She’s just not responding right,” the nurse told officers.

One minute later, someone is heard on the recording saying Wade is “ice cold.”

Officers and nurses look for a pulse.

“I don’t feel one,” someone said.

“Something’s not right,” said someone else.

Video showed that 10 minutes after corrections officers found Wade, the jail’s master control was notified to call 911.

“I can’t feel a pulse,” someone said on the body cam recording. “I don’t know if it’s because she’s so cold.”

Despite not having a pulse, a county timeline of events showed it took more than 15 minutes from the time Wade was found until she received chest compressions.

The 41-year-old was rushed to the hospital but died just after 5 a.m.

Wade’s death came one month after a joint News 5, Marshall Project-Cleveland investigation raised questions about the length of time it took jail staff to begin CPR.

In the 2023 death of Fred Maynard and the 2024 death of Glen Williams Jr. video showed it took nine minutes before the men received CPR.

Too long, emergency response expert Eric Jaeger said.

“We know that any gap in CPR longer than 10 seconds is potentially disastrous for a patient,” said Jaeger.

Records show Wade had been in jail since September, charged with harassment by an inmate stemming from an incident at Marymount Hospital nearly two months earlier.

A county report showed she bounced between mental health treatment, the jail and hospital emergency departments because of what the county called “change in mental status and chest pain.”

An autopsy found she died of heart failure.

Following Wade’s death, an associated warden at the jail wrote that there was a need for training for both jailers and medical staff on how to address medical emergencies.

A county report following Wade’s death found four different areas of potential improvement.

Among them, the need for immediate vital checks in a medical emergency, scenario-based medical emergency training to improve skills and response more effectively and requiring staff to remain with someone during medical emergencies.

A county spokesperson has not responded to questions asking if those improvements have been implemented in the jail.

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.