Author: CNN Newsource

By Breana Pitts

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    BROOKLINE, Massachusetts (WBZ) — There’s a pottery studio in Brookline, Massachusetts that’s been bringing people together for more than 50 years with clay.

Feet of Clay on Station Street is a cooperatively run studio that has been part of Brookline since 1974. The block has evolved into a small creative hub, and inside the studio, the atmosphere is calm, welcoming, and hands-on.

“This is where people come to relax and to really think creatively,” said potter Jennifer Wyman. “To learn something cool. To build some skills that are opposite of what they do for work. All kinds of doctors, lawyers, they’re all out here just trying it.”

Wyman is one of several artists who run the studio, where everyone pitches in. Members mix glazes, load kilns, clean the space, and even manage social media.

“It’s not just a studio where leadership does the work, everybody does the work,” Wyman explained. “It makes people really own the space, and it builds community. People get to know each other.”

That sense of shared ownership is a big part of what keeps the studio thriving. Feet of Clay is home to about 140 potters, offering independent studio space for members as well as classes for all skill levels, including children.

The kids’ classes, Wyman said, often produce some of the most memorable work.

“They’re so free with what they make,” she said. “Some of the coolest pieces we see (come) from the kids’ class.”

She said it’s because they don’t feel like their pottery has to be perfect.

“You might as well have a machine make it, if it’s going to be perfect,” Wyman said.

Pottery though, she added, has a way of humbling even experienced artists.

“It really shows your personality,” Wyman said. “Are you going to be hard on yourself, or are you going to accept that it takes time, and you’ll figure it out? You have to slow down to enjoy it, that’s what makes it so meditative.”

After each piece is shaped, it’s fired in the kiln and then dipped into a wide range of glazes. Many of the glaze formulas have been passed down through generations of potters, adding another layer of history to each finished piece.

For Wyman, the work is deeply personal. Her inspiration often shows up in miniature sculptures.

“This little chair represents rest and how much I love birds,” she said. “Each piece means a lot to me. It’s a way I tell my story.”

The studio offers a range of class packages and a pay-what-you-can option based on income, making the art form accessible to more people.

Clay, Wyman said, has a way of revealing who you are.

“You can see that it’s a certain person’s personality. It just comes right out into the pot, whether you like it or not,” she 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 Annie Brown

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    LEXINGTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — It’s said a woman’s hair can be her crown — and for some, losing it can feel like losing a part of themselves. In Lexington, one local salon is giving that crown back, helping women veterans reclaim not just their hair, but their confidence.

For nearly 20 years, Melanie Day has stood behind the salon chair, listening to stories and seeing the quiet battles her clients face.

“You see needs,” Day said. “You see what people are experiencing.”

She knows hair is so much more than just hair — it can be the spark that helps someone feel whole again.

“Hair is so much more than just cosmetic. It’s everything. A lot of times women are going through things quietly. They don’t feel seen,” Day said.

So she decided to do something about it.

Day partnered with the VA to provide free wigs to women veterans battling hair loss due to medical conditions like post-partum, PTSD, cancer treatment side effects, or years under military hair regulations that left lasting damage.

“That really takes a toll on your hair after a while,” she said. “We’re able to help with all of that.”

Each wig is tailored not just to a head, but to a life.

“What sets us apart is that we’re there from start to finish. We help with scalp care. We are working with your care team a lot of times. The providers are contacting us on behalf of their patients because they recognize their patients need this service,” Day said.

“I have one client who, she had a lot of head trauma from surgeries, things like that. The wigs she bought online were itchy. They hurt, they didn’t fit right. So we were able to find and we were able to make wigs for her that felt comfortable, that were light,” Day said.

Tamika Saxx, an Army veteran who served for 14 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. For a while, to her, the mirror showed a stranger — until she got connected with Day.

“I just remember when she told me it was ready I was excited. I didn’t know what to expect. And when I walked in and she put it on my head and I just teared up. I’m getting emotional thinking about it now. I said Melanie, I look like me again. I feel like me again,” Saxx 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 Michael Berk

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    LEXINGTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — Adam Dahl never expected his goofy TikTok videos would help feed thousands of students, but the owner of Dahlhus Fudge in Lexington has turned social media success into a mission to eliminate school lunch debt for Fayette County Public School students.

What started as a modest $13,000 fundraising goal has grown into something much bigger. Dahl is now one-third of the way toward raising $60,000 this school year — enough to pay down or eliminate the district’s entire lunch debt.

“I just dance around my shop,” Dahl said. “Literally it’s me just hanging out being goofy, making fudge, but people will sit for a minute to make sure TikTok pays me so I can do it. It blows me away people think I’m that interesting, or want to follow the cause.”

Dahl’s TikTok account @dahlhusfudge has exploded to more than 85,000 followers, with supporters from across the country following his candy-making antics and charitable mission. He began his fundraising push in February and resumed it in September with his first “Dahlhus Fudge Feed the Kids 3K” race.

The breakthrough came when Dahl realized he could monetize his TikTok account after reaching 10,000 followers.

“I don’t need to make money off my TikTok videos, so let’s raise money for those who need it,” Dahl said when he first launched the mission.

The cause has resonated far beyond Kentucky’s borders. People from around the country have donated and messaged Dahl about his efforts, and some even visit his shop on Woodland Avenue near downtown Lexington to thank him in person or contribute directly.

“Knowing that school-age kids shouldn’t have to worry about where the money comes from for their breakfast and lunch at school. I think that’s a cause everybody can get behind,” Dahl said.

For those who have supported his mission, Dahl has a simple message.

“I would love to shake the hand of anyone who is doing this and say, ‘from the bottom of my heart, thank you,'” he 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 Megan Mannering

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    MT. STERLING, Kentucky (WLEX) — Love stories don’t have expiration dates, as Brenda and Bob Wagoner discovered at the Montgomery County Senior Center.

The couple, ages 71 and 74, were each working through grief when they met in 2023. What started as a card game led to companionship, and now their lives are just beginning together.

“During the pandemic, my husband of almost 48 years passed away, and with the isolation and the grief it was really hard for me to get back out into society,” Brenda said.

A grief counselor nudged her out the door and into the senior center, where she found more than just activities.

“The people took me in, they embraced me, and taught me how to play this card game they play, and I felt like I belonged,” Brenda said.

That’s where she met Bob, a self-proclaimed bachelor navigating the recent loss of his mother.

“Bob comes back and we start playing cards together and we end up sitting together at lunch one day, talking about grief after losing someone really close,” Brenda recalled.

“That’s why I was coming to the center,” said Bob. “After losing my mother, I started meeting new friends and here she came,” Bob said, nodding to Brenda.

The other senior center regulars quickly noticed their connection.

“And then everybody started in on the matchmaking, ‘You two need to get together, you need to get together,'” Brenda laughed.

“It was a great feeling getting to know somebody…kinda like you were a teenager again, get all nervous, edgy, hoping everything will work out, and it did,” Bob said.

Like any good romantic comedy, their relationship had the classic “will they, won’t they” moment.

“We both were like, I don’t wanna get married, we’ll just be friends, just date,” Mullins said.

But you know how that goes.

“He finally asked me to marry him, but I said ‘I’m not ready,'” said Brenda. Finishing her sentence, Bob recalled, ‘Well, when you get ready you let me know.'”

On December 23, 2025, Mullins was ready.

They originally planned to wed at the courthouse, but once the county judge and mayor heard their love story, the guest list grew. The couple decided to say “I do” where it all began: the senior center.

“It’s just a comfort being with her,” Bob said.

“I like to cook, Bob likes to eat, so we got it made,” the couple laughed.

The newlyweds plan to honeymoon in the spring by fishing on a lake somewhere.

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 Christie Ileto

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    ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (WPVI) — Benjamin Noisette is grateful to the Atlantic City police officer who helped save his life.

Earlier this year, the 83-year-old returned from an international trip feeling unwell. Unbeknownst to him, he had a collapsed lung.

“The breathing that I had was rough. I called them and said, ‘I think I have to go to the hospital,'” Noisette recalled.

His daughter, Sabina, said she immediately raced home.

“I was so scared. We started zipping through streets to get back here, and we came right down that street,” she said.

That’s when she saw Officer Scott Sendrek on patrol and flagged him down.

Within seconds, Sendrek had to decide whether to wait for medics or escort them to the hospital.

“While I was on scene, his condition got worse,” Sendrek said. “I told them to just follow me down to the hospital, put on my emergency lights and sirens.”

“The doctor said had we waited, he would have expired,” Sabina said.

Noisette was discharged after a week in the hospital. Months later, he is still recovering and seeing a pulmonary specialist.

His family is beyond thankful for Sendrek’s quick actions.

“What you did… your service really extended beyond just you helping us that day,” Sabina 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 6abc Digital Staff and Maggie Kent

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    ARDMORE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Burglars broke into a Lululemon in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, early Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred around 2 a.m. at the store in Suburban Square, located on the unit block of Montgomery Avenue.

Video shows the glass door smashed and items scattered around the store.

Authorities say at least two masked suspects burglarized the store and then took off with armloads of men’s clothing in a U-Haul pick-up truck.

Police say the suspects used a sledgehammer to shatter the door. They ran straight to the men’s section, grabbing coats, vests and shirts, before running out. One of the men returned moments later to take even more merchandise.

“This is taking it to another level,” Lower Merion Police Superintendent Andy Block said.

Police are searching for at least two men. The U-Haul was last seen on Bryn Mawr and Woodbine avenues.

The athleisure wear brand is often a popular target for thieves, as each item of clothing costs about $100 and up.

“They’re using it on the market, maybe they’re exchanging it for drugs, or they’re selling it on the black market. It’s a highly sought-after item,” said Superintendent Block.

This same store in Ardmore was ransacked by women who ran out with armloads full of merchandise back in May, 2024.

Unfortunately, these thefts and subsequent chases have also turned dangerous, and even deadly.

Teens were killed when their vehicle crashed while being pursued by police after being suspected of robbing a Lululemon in April, 2024.

It is unclear how much merchandise was taken in Tuesday’s burglary.

There were no injuries reported.

No arrests have been made.

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 Nick Ciletti

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    ARIZONA (KNXV) — A Valley veteran and U.S. citizen says he was wrongfully detained and forcibly removed from a cruise ship by border agents and he believes it was all a case of mistaken identity.

It became a 50th birthday cruise to the Caribbean for Jose “Joey” Martinez of north Phoenix that he’ll never forget, but for all the wrong reasons.

Martinez, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, says early Monday morning, after his cruise to the Caribbean was ending and the ship had docked in Miami for everyone to disembark, agents with Customs and Border Protection stormed into his cabin while he was sleeping, handcuffed him, and forcibly removed him, taking him to a holding cell off the ship.

Martinez explains he was in the holding cell for roughly 90 minutes at the port and had offered to show more proof of his identification – and even discussed the fact he served in the U.S. Coast Guard for seven years with agents, but that didn’t seem to work initially.

Finally, after being fingerprinted and questioned some more, agents released him, explaining they had the wrong person, according to Martinez.

He says that with a name like “Jose Martinez,” he has been detained before, since it’s a common name, but never in a way that was as violent and traumatizing as this.

“The fact that what happened to me shows this could happen to anybody,” explains Martinez. “There is so many other people out there that this is happening to, maybe not on a cruise ship, but maybe on the streets or in their homes. And it’s just not right. There’s no humanity in it. It’s unnecessary. It’s dehumanizing.”

“It was traumatizing,” adds Tammy Verhas, Martinez’s wife.

As this was happening, his wife, Verhas, says she attempted to film, but was prevented from doing so by a female agent. Later on, Martinez and Verhas claim CBP agents forced them to delete the photos and videos they had taken of the incident. These are questions we are working to get answered by CBP officials.

ABC15 reached out to Carnival Cruise Line, which sent ABC15 the following statement:

We are aware that U.S. Customs and Border Protection took a guest into custody as a person of interest. As this is a law‑enforcement matter, we defer all further questions to the appropriate authorities.”

ABC15 also reached out to ICE and Customs and Border Protection. A spokesperson from the Florida CBP office did not confirm any of the details, but told us they would look into the incident for us.

ABC15 also reached out to both Senator Mark Kelly’s and Senator Ruben Gallego’s offices to see if they were aware of what took place.

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 Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement that will overhaul New York’s broken children’s mental health system, after many were left waiting for care, at times, for years.

Families were suing over the lack of services for low-income children, with a mother and son from Long Island leading the charge.

The settlement requires the state’s departments of health and mental health to “substantially redesign their mental and behavioral health service offerings … guaranteeing timely, intensive care at home before kids reach crisis or institutionalization.”

Advocates say the decision is a huge turning point.

“I’m hopeful that this is really an opportunity for the state to look at really what each family’s needs [are] and to make sure our system is able to serve them without everyone jumping through hoops and waiting years for services,” said Kayleigh Zaloga, of the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health. The settlement requires New York re-evaluate Medicaid reimbursement rates — a key factor in the backlogs, as there are only 28 child psychiatrists per 100 children in the state.

Implementation of the changes is expected over the next few years.

Cody Hauptman bravely spoke at a recent town hall about fighting to get mental health help through Medicaid.

“I struggled with mental health challenges early on. Sometimes, I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Hauptman said. “I just sat on wait lists. I was hospitalized more than 20 times, was handcuffed.” He was taken away by police a dozen times before the age of 9.

“We were trying to get him services at home to keep him out of the hospital and he sat on wait lists. While he was on the wait list, he had his first suicide attempt,” said Christina Hauptman, Cody’s mother and a mental health advocate.

Cody and Christina Hauptman joined other families in taking New York to court, accusing the state of running an “inadequate, inaccessible, and dysfunctional mental health system for children.”

The suit claimed, “Too many children are stuck in a vicious cycle of repeated emergency room visits and repeated institutionalization, without receiving the intensive home and community-based services they actually need.”

William Gettman, CEO of Northern Rivers Family of Services, echoed the suit’s claim.

“The need is incredible post-COVID — 1 in 5 kids have had mental health exposure, suicide rates are astronomical. [It’s] a very challenging work load. We have staff that can find higher-paying, better jobs someplace else,” Gettman said.

The judge called the settlement urgent and gave Christina Hauptman a hug. “It has been a very long road and I think I needed that hug,” she said.

Cody Hauptman, who is now 18, advocates for youth mental health and works with children. He said he is hopeful about the future and so is his mom.

“I am hopeful for all the children in New York and all the families. I think it’s a great day,” he said.

The settlement calls for implementation over the next few years.

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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    ANN ARBOR, Michigan (WXYZ) — A $7 million penthouse in downtown Ann Arbor could set a new record as the most expensive residential sale in the city’s history.

The 5,000-square-foot luxury unit sits atop the South Downtown Main Block at 414 S. Main Street, combining two units into one sprawling home with three bedrooms and three bathrooms across two stories.

“It will be the most expensive sale in the history of Ann Arbor,” said Matt Dejanovich, the Real Estate One agent handling the listing.

Dejanovich has 40 years of experience in Ann Arbor’s real estate market and calls this property exceptional.

“This is at another level,” Dejanovich said.

The penthouse was custom-crafted in the early 2000s using premium materials throughout. Colorful ceilings complement marble floors, all designed by renowned interior designer Robert Denning, who decorated luxury homes for decades before his death.

“This unit was created with only the finest materials… design and craftsmanship,” Dejanovich said. “From the marble floors to the trim, this took years to create.”

Nearly all furnishings and décor are included in the sale price. The office features pieces directly from fashion designer Gianni Versace’s estate, including his desk, chairs and murals.

“Much of the furnishings come directly from the Versace estate. These are historical pieces that will last for generations,” Dejanovich said.

A wrap-around balcony circles the exterior, offering views of the University of Michigan campus. The penthouse includes a private elevator for exclusive access.

“This is not a giant gray box, right. This is something unique and special,” Dejanovich said.

Interest in the property has been strong since it hit the market, with Dejanovich reporting his phone has been “ringing off the hook” with inquiries from potential buyers.

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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.

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.