Author: CNN Newsource

By Jennifer Bisram

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — New York City’s Trinidad and Tobago Parade won’t be stepping off in Brooklyn this weekend.

Organizers had planned to hold the annual event Sunday, on the eve of Trinidad and Tobago’s 64th Independence Day, but they say their permit was denied a few days ago.

“I feel a little disappointed. A lot went in to prepare for this,” said Danville Williamson, cofounder of Trinidad and Tobago Day in New York. “A lot of money had been spent.”

In a statement, the NYPD said, “The parade was not cancelled. The organizers never had an approved permit for the event. They were given an opportunity to suggest an alternate date and route to obtain a permit but chose not to.”

Williamson disputes what the NYPD says. According to Williamson, back in May, he was told the parade was a go, just like the last two years when the parade was smaller.

He says in recent weeks, however, he was asked to move the date, which he says he did, shifting it from Aug. 23 to Aug. 30.

Then he says he was asked to change the route, which he says he agreed to. The new parade route would have been around Church and Flatbush avenues in Little Caribbean, ending at Prospect Park with a family picnic under the theme “Our Culture, Our People, Our Freedom.”

Earlier this week, Williamson says it was all shut down.

“The crowd would have been too much. That’s what they’re saying to me,” Williamson said. “The last word was it was too close to Labor Day, and they don’t have the manpower.”

Businesses in the area say it’s a loss financially and culturally.

“We feel like Trinis are being discriminated against. Everyone else gets their day,” said Eveylyn Charles, co-owner of Trini Breakfast Shed. “We would have gotten a lot more business.”

Joseph Baptise, with Radoes Steel Orchestra, says his group had been invited to play at the parade.

“It’s kinda disappointing,” he said.

Organizers are hoping to get approved for another date this year.

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 Naveen Dhaliwal

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    NEW JERSEY (WCBS) — New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law Friday making cocktails to-go permanent.

The rule, which was put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic, was set to expire on Sept. 1.

The legislation allows restaurants, bars and certain other businesses to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages for consumption off-premises. The law says alcohol must be in original containers and mixed drinks must be in sealed containers.

“New Jersey’s small businesses shouldn’t have to navigate outdated rules just to serve their customers and grow,” Sherrill said in a statement. “Cocktails to-go worked, customers liked it, and small businesses told us it was another way to bring in revenue. Today, we’re making it permanent.”

At the Court Street Restaurant and Bar on Sixth Street in Hoboken, owner Kevin Cocca was elated to hear the news.

“It gives us another revenue stream to help with the inflation we are seeing right now,” he said. “The cost of everything, food is skyrocketing … so this is just another revenue stream that can hopefully prevent us from raising prices.”

Cocca says the new law will not only provide more foot traffic, it will make his establishment more competitive.

“It worked during COVID. People were not outside drinking on the street, which I think was the fear leading into it,” he said. “Industry-wide, alcohol sales are down a bit, they’re down like 20% or so, but I think this is going to help everybody.”

Customers say it’s a win-win.

“I’m horrible at making mixed drinks, so to be able to order it and be able to enjoy it at home is the greatest thing in the world,” Hoboken resident Rachel Avery said.

“In this town especially, Guinness is really a huge deal, and there are only certain places that you know that really pour a good Guinness well,” Hoboken resident Torrey Smith said.

Connecticut made to-go drinks permanent back in 2023. In New York, alcohol to-go is allowed through 2030.

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) — While our summer has been dry, many can’t say the same for their nose or eyes. Ragweed allergies are picking up steam.

“Ragweed is actually a very, very common weed that grows wild throughout the Midwest and Northeast,” said Dr. John Sweet, an allergist with Hennepin Healthcare.

Its leaves have a fern-like appearance with greenish-yellow flowers at the end of its branches. Sweet said just one single ragweed plant can generate a billion grains of pollen that can travel more than 100 miles.

“Even though you may not see ragweed in your yard, it’s in the air. So, there’s almost no avoiding it when you’re outside if you have an allergy,” he said.

Seasonal allergies impact about 20% to 40% of the general population, according to Sweet.

When ragweed pollen gets into an allergic person’s eyes, nose or throat, the body releases chemicals to fight it, creating the following symptoms:

Itchy, watery, red eyes Nasal congestion Runny nose Eczema/hives

“Other people can have sensitivity in their lungs where they start having asthma symptoms. They start having coughing, wheezing, chest tightness,” added Sweet.

The symptoms start appearing in August and peak in September because that’s when ragweed blooms and releases pollen.

Unfortunately, Minnesota’s drought conditions aren’t helping the situation. As grass burns and struggles to grow, weeds thrive along with their pollen.

“And if you combine that with some heavy winds, the pollen counts just will soar in those days,” Sweet said.

Rain would be helpful since it washes pollen away to prevent it from flying in the air. But it also helps ragweed grow, meaning it would release more pollen later in the season.

So how can you best battle ragweed allergies?

It’s starts with prevention. Sweet says you can use a steroid nasal spray and take an antihistamine pill daily, though you should do it before symptoms start.

“(Nasal spray and allergy pill) combined can be much more effective than taking either separately,” he said.

Ragweed pollen also sticks easily to hair and skin. Sweet recommends showering to remove it, especially before getting into bed.

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 Jason Rantala

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    BROOKLYN CENTER, Minnesota (WCCO) — Twin Cities high schoolers looked on Wednesday as an intense SWAT team situation unfolded before their eyes.

However, it’s all staged and part of the FBI’s teen academy in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

The FBI in the Twin Cities says they need to keep its numbers up to keep pace with new threats.

“My friends would ask me, ‘What do you mean you’re going to an FBI academy, like what did you do?'” said Mady Anderson, a Rogers High School 11th grader.

Anderson was one of about two dozen high schoolers who got accepted for the two-day program. Their goal Wednesday was to learn how to collect evidence through skills taught by real-life agents.

“It’s really fun. I think it’s really interesting,” said East Ridge 11th grader Peyton Gehbard. “I wish I could be on a real case, but I’m only 16.”

“One of the reasons is to show them what is real FBI, what do we really do. It’s different from the movies and they get to peek on that,” said Benni Jonsson, assistant special agent in charge for the FBI’s Minneapolis field office.

The purpose of the national program is to give teens a peek behind the curtain, and possibly inspire a future career.

“Maybe someone here today is the new FBI employee, maybe new lead in FBI or law enforcement,” said Johnsson.

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 Noel Brennan

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    ELMHURST, Illinois (WBBM) — While Chicago Bears fans are focused on the present and the future, a museum in Elmhurst is inviting fans to look at the past.

“Bear Down: Football in the Windy City” opens on Friday at the Elmhurst History Museum.

Sarah Cox is a history buff who bleeds navy and orange. As curator of exhibits at the Elmhurst History Museum, she’s been working for two years to tell this story – a story not only about the Bears, but other Chicagoland football teams.

“Like the Chicago Cardinals, the Rockets, the Hornets, even the team that was only around for a year, the Tigers,” she said. “The Elmhurst Travelers, they played here from 1927 all the way until 1968.”

Cox worked with the Bears, private collectors and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to pack the museum with Monsters of the Midway and even a “Galloping Ghost” – Hall of Fame halfback Red Grange, who played for the Bears for seven seasons in the 1920s and 1930s.

“Red Grange is often considered the first superstar,” Cox said. “I think his most famous was scoring four touchdowns in 12 minutes.”

The exhibit at the Elmhurst History Museum includes a pair of Grange’s shoes, one of his footballs, and even a Red Grange doll.

There are several vintage Bears jerseys and at least one mannequin in former Bears coach Mike Ditka’s iconic sweater, cap, sunglasses, and mustache, holding a mug of beer on a table with a miniature Bears helmet and a cheese grater.

“That was made extremely famous by the SNL skit ‘Super Fans,'” Cox said.

The museum is full of football history. Now, it’s up to the Bears to make some more.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 24. It’s free, but donations are welcomed.

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 James Taylor, CBS13 Photojournalist

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — There are about 4,000 food trucks across the Sacramento region and nearly all of them use gas generators. But on Friday night, some truck owners are flipping the switch on a new idea.

At first glance, Friday’s event in Sacramento’s Tahoe Park looked like any other food fest. But in the background, there are some banks of batteries that are cooking up these tasty treats.

Steve Dornback’s food truck is normally powered by a gas generator that is noisy and emits exhaust fumes. But on this night, the Smokin’ Ewe and several other trucks are being powered entirely by clean electric batteries.

“It’s super quiet, we can hear everybody, we can hear the birds chirping,” Dornback said. “We’re going to hear the music tonight, so I think it’s great.”

He was a little skeptical at first if it would work.

“When he plugged in, everything clicked on no problem. I was like, we’re good to go,” he said.

It’s part of a demonstration project at this week’s Tahoe Park Neighborhood Association food truck festival and it’s a meetup with a message.

“It’s important that we do everything we can,” said Eric Guerra, Sacramento’s mayor pro tem. “Every little bit counts to keep our air clean.”

Guerra represents the neighborhood and is a member of the California Air Resources Board. He says the goal is to demonstrate how zero-emission technology can be used as an alternative to gas-powered generators.

“All of that gas and the fumes and the noise, it just takes away from the ambiance,” Guerra said.

Even the live stage is being powered 100% by batteries. Band members say there’s no difference in the quality of their sound.

“There’s not that big, huge sound that those gas generators have and it’s all nice and quiet,” said Lilian Ghafari, a musician.

The batteries can be charged using solar power to create a zero-emission energy source.

Dornback said the electrical batteries make it a more enjoyable environment, and his brisket and mac and cheese will turn out just the same no matter where the power comes from.

“The food will not taste any different, as long as it turns that carousel over the wood fire, we’re good to go,” he said.

This is not the first time clean energy has been used at the Tahoe Park neighborhood event. Last year, they used a hydrogen fuel cell to power the food trucks.

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 Matthew Rodriguez, Nicole Comstock

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    MONROVIA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Monrovia police officers eating lunch at a local Panda Express finally caught a break when the man they’ve been searching for strolled into the restaurant on Wednesday night.

The officers tried to apprehend the man wanted for a parole violation twice before, but he escaped them both times after running onto the freeway.

“On attempt #3, officers were taking a well-deserved Panda Express break when, out of nowhere, the wanted man walked right up to them,” Monrovia PD wrote in a post to Instagram.

Body camera video from the officers showed them spotting the man and rushing out of their seats to tackle him.

“At this point, we’re not sure if it was good police work, bad timing, or the irresistible smell of chow mein,” Monrovia PD wrote. “Either way, an arrest was made. And don’t worry the officers went back for their food and finished their chow mein. Priorities.”

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.