Author: CNN Newsource

By Robert Boyd

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Growing up in Venezuela, Tony Selvaggio witnessed firsthand how many families lived without computers, and soon realized the issue existed right here in his new home of Tampa Bay.

“Most people don’t know that there is a problem, most people don’t know that 80 percent of our computers are being thrown away and not being recycled,” said Selvaggio.

So in 2014, just a few years after immigrating to the U.S, Tony opened eSmart Recycling. Last year, the business accepted more than one million pounds of used electronics.

“If it has a plug, a switch, or a battery, then we can recycle it,” said Selvaggio.

Tony knows how impactful a computer can be. His first and only computer growing up not only got him through school, but it’s also how he applied for his VISA.

“When you hear numbers, like in the county we have a wait list of 1,500 kids who don’t have computers in their home, it sounds like a problem that shouldn’t exist,” said Selvaggio.

This past year, Tony donated more than 1,000 refurbished computers to people in need.

“We work hand in hand with Hillsborough Education Foundation; we work a lot with non-profits in the community that really need access to computers,” said Selvaggio.

One of their non-profit partners is GTE Financial. They say Tony’s dedication to giving back is significant during Hispanic Heritage Month.

“He was doing amazing things, and we are all about empowering our community, and we definitely wanted to empower more people like him,” said Onassis Santiago with GTE Financial.

Every day, Tony walks past a sign outside his office that reads, “If you want to change the world, start in your own community.”

“Hispanic Heritage Month for me is an opportunity to celebrate our upbringing, those things that we bring from a cultural standpoint that can help us become more competitive as a community. This is a perfect example,” said Selvaggio.

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By Brad Hamilton

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    California (KPIX) — For decades, anyone driving along Interstate Highway 280 in Hillsborough could look up and see a giant statue of Father Junípero Serra watching over the Peninsula next to the Crystal Springs rest stop.

But this summer, Caltrans quietly removed the statue, and the move is reigniting a debate over the 18th-century missionary’s legacy.

Patricia Gonzalez knows the Crystal Springs Rest Area better than most, since she manages it.

“As a kid, I remember going to Blackberry Farm and passing the statue and knowing, ‘Okay, we’re almost there,'” she said.

For the past three years, Gonzalez has watched travelers pull off I-280, some for a quick break, others to take photos with the figure that stood guard above them.

“The last people to come were from Ireland, and they came to see the statue, and it was gone,” Gonzalez said.

Built in 1975 by artist Louis Dubois, the 26-foot-tall statue had become part of the landscape, a landmark for commuters, families, and tourists from around the world.

But this summer, the view changed overnight.

“All I was told is that they were going to close the rest stop down,” said Gonzalez. “They closed it for about a week and took the statue down.”

Gonzalez says crews from Caltrans arrived in August with little notice. When the rest area reopened, the statue was gone.

Caltrans later confirmed the removal, saying the monument no longer met requirements under the state’s Transportation Art Program and that the structure was too fragile to move safely.

On its website, Caltrans says the Transportation Art Program installs artwork that represents communities’ “unique aesthetic, environmental, scenic, historical, and cultural values.”

Serra, an 18th-century Spanish missionary, helped found the first nine of California’s 21 missions. But his legacy has become increasingly controversial. To his supporters, he’s a symbol of faith and heritage. To his critics, he represents a painful era of colonization and the suppression of Indigenous people.

Greg Castro, a cultural leader with the Association of Ohlone Tribes, has advocated for years to see the statue come down.

“One of the responses we get is that we’re trying to erase history,” Castro said. “And my response is that the statue itself erases history, it ignores the harm that was done.”

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone said he was not told about the removal before it happened.

“No one fought for St. Junípero Serra because, apparently, officials from Caltrans and the Transportation Art Program didn’t consult with anyone who would give them an opinion that differed from their own,” said Cordileone in a statement sent to CBS News Bay Area. “Would we expect this treatment if it happened to be associated with another religious organization? I think not.”

Serra was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis in 2015. His statues have been the target of protests in recent years, including in 2020 when one in San Rafael was vandalized with red paint and another in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was toppled by demonstrators.

Today, the hillside in Hillsborough where Serra’s statue once stood is empty, just a patch of earth above the rest stop Gonzalez still runs.

“People are going to miss it,” she said. “People still come every day to see it. It’s sad.”

While the debate over Serra’s legacy may continue for years, Gonzalez says for her, it’s simpler: a piece of local history that’s now just a memory on the drive home.

Caltrans says the statue was removed back in August and that there are no plans to rebuild or replace it.

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By Annie Brown

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    LEXINGTON, Kentucky (WLEX) — If you’ve spotted purple pumpkins around Lexington recently, they’re not just seasonal decorations – they’re part of a meaningful initiative to raise awareness about domestic violence.

The “Peace Pumpkins” are the result of a partnership between Transylvania University and Lexington’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. Students at the university paint the pumpkins each October in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Maybe when someone sees a pumpkin that they can smile and see that they’re not alone,” said junior Alejandro Perez Canedo.

The purple pumpkins can be found throughout the city – at local businesses as well as in government buildings and courthouses.

Ashley Hill, the Dean of Student Success at Transylvania University, said the October tradition began in 2019 as a companion project to the “Wake Up Lexington” initiative that takes place each April.

“We paint more and more each year. We started with 50 pumpkins the first year, we’re up to 150. We probably could go more than that and still have a need for more pumpkins,” Hill said.

But these aren’t just decorative pumpkins. Each one comes with a card featuring a QR code that links directly to domestic violence resources.

“For issues like domestic violence, I believe awareness is the best thing you can do to make change. Everybody knows everybody here, and I feel like spreading the word is the best way to go about that,” said junior Max Hankins.

The QR codes provide access to resources that could potentially change lives, offering help to those who need it or information for people who might encounter someone in need of assistance.

“Even if you think that it’s not something that applies to you right now, it might be something that could help somebody in the future. It might be something that you can keep in your back pocket when you run into a family member, a friend, a community member,” Hill explained.

The message behind the Peace Pumpkins is simple but powerful: “Our job is to take care of each other, so check it out just to have the knowledge for whoever you encounter in the future,” said Hill.

The initiative demonstrates how a creative community partnership can turn a simple fall tradition into a tool for awareness and support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

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By Mike Moses

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    MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (WMUR) — The man convicted of killing his friend in 2019 with a sword, kitchen fork, and other weapons was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Hassan Sapry was found guilty last month, following a second trial, of killing 57-year-old Wilfred Guzman inside his Laconia home. Sapry’s first trial ended in a mistrial in 2022.

Several members of Guzman’s family, including his son, Wilfred Guzman Jr., read impact statements during the hearing.

They described Guzman as a loving man and a protector whose life was taken in a place he should have felt safest.

“It was definitely a long time coming for this trial to be, you know, ended and through all the delays,” Guzman Jr. said. “I think he got what he deserved.”

Guzman Jr. said that while the pain will never fade, the sentence allows his family to move forward.

“I mean, there’s no sense of closure when it comes to, you know, sentencing, but it’s a sense of relief. Now we can move forward together and just have memories of my father,” he said.

Sapry declined to speak when given the chance.

Prosecutors said the sentence is meant to send a clear message.

“Part of the sentencing is deterrence. And the hope is that by imposing a significant sentence, it will not only deter this perpetrator, but other perpetrators like him,” said Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffery Strelzin.

Sapry was also ordered to pay restitution. The judge noted that small monthly payments will serve as a continued reminder of his crimes.

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By Audrey Biesk

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    GREENSBORO, North Carolina (WXII) — There is a one in eight chance a woman will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

That statistic is true for a Triad woman who is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Elsie Best said her mission is to spread joy and fundraise for ACS while raising awareness.

“If you truly want to live, you will fight to live and that’s one of the things it taught me,” Best said as she reflects on her diagnosis.

Each day since receiving the news that she had stage four breast cancer, Best said she chooses to remain positive. She is proud to share that at 88 years old, she feels good today. Best went through years of treatment, a double mastectomy and two separate breast cancer diagnoses, but she said she never let that define her.

“Look your best, because you deserve the best. You are the best, not because my name is Best, but because you deserve the best of life,” she said while smiling.

She shows up to several events in the Triad benefiting the American Cancer Society and always lights up the room.

“Go out and do something for yourself, put some lipstick on, step out the back door, get dressed up,” Best said. “It is very important how we treat our bodies, we don’t have to treat them like they are something to put on a shelf.”

Best said her mission is to raise awareness and critical funds for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K each year.

“Donate. That is the most important thing, to donate for the research. My second time around was much easier than the first time,” Best said.

She knows firsthand what the support means to her, so she is paying it forward. Best has received awards for her impressive fundraising totals.

“We are praying and we are hoping that there will be a cure for breast cancer,” Best said.

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By Matthew Rodriguez

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Los Angeles police are investigating a road rage incident near Baldwin Hills, where a man pulled another driver out of a car and beat him.

The victim, Adam Berry, said he was driving on La Cienega Boulevard on Sept. 23 when he encountered a slow-moving work truck that was towing a Toyota Camry.

“It was going slow, but there are three lanes, so I went around him,” Berry said. “No honking. Nothing.”

About a half mile down the road, the other driver approached his window and berated him with expletives and anti-gay slurs, according to Berry.

“I roll my window down and he starts screaming at me,” he said. “I’ve been in LA for 15 years now, so it’s nothing too unusual, unfortunately … I do remember processing, I should probably not be sticking around for this. I don’t want to be stuck at a light with this guy.”

Berry said he drove through traffic, at times cutting people off, before stopping at the intersection of La Cienega and Obama Boulevard.

“I don’t see him anywhere,” Berry said. “I’m assuming I’m in the clear. But, next thing I know, my driver’s side mirror is getting kicked in, and a hand reaches in and opens my door and pulls me out of the car.”

The suspect threw him to the ground and beat him while other drivers watched, according to Berry.

“All lanes of cars were stopped,” Berry said. “Everyone’s just sitting there watching. No one really got out, as far as I could see. I think everyone was pretty freaked out.”

After the initial assault, Berry said the man came back and punched him three more times while he was trying to get a picture of the suspect and his license plate.

“I’m trying to wipe the blood off of my phone and get a good shot that’s usable for the police,” Berry said. “I can’t get the blood off in time. He comes back, and I get about three more hits to the head.”

The suspect drove away but got stuck in traffic, allowing Berry enough time to take a picture of the man and his license plate for the police.

The Los Angeles Police Department said the suspect was gone when they arrived, but they took a felony battery report for the incident. Paramedics took Berry to the hospital to treat a gash to his chin and bruises to his forehead. Police are still searching for the suspect.

Berry said he’s still rattled two weeks after the attack, and while he’s seen road rage incidents on social media, he never thought it could happen to him.

“I’ve never had anything like that happen in my life,” he said. “I just feel like there’s a lot of heat, a lot of hate, and I really honestly think we’re all a lot more alike … I just wish that this stuff would stop because this is a really beautiful community.”

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By Rachael Perry

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    PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (WPBF) — A viral social media challenge is raising concerns nationwide, including in communities on the Treasure Coast.

The trend is known as the door-kicking challenge, and officials are warning of both the dangers and legal consequences.

A homeowner in Port St Lucie recently posted a video to social media claiming someone was aggressively kicking and banging on their door overnight. They said the person appeared to be going to several homes in the neighborhood.

People in the comments quickly suspected it may have been teens taking part in the viral challenge.

WPBF 25 News caught up with Master Sgt Dominick Mesiti, who explained how the challenge works and what makes it so dangerous.

“You’ll either have juveniles or young adults tend to conceal their identity, maybe armed with a foe weapon or not, a pellet gun or a BB gun that looks real, and they attempt to kick in the front door of a residence during the middle of the night, alerting the residence at 2 a.m. or whatever have you,” Mesiti said.

He said the trend is especially dangerous in the state of Florida.

“We have the Stand Your Ground laws plus the Castle Doctrine, where you can use reasonable force up to and including deadly force to protect yourself. At 2 a.m., if somebody’s kicking your door in and you don’t know their intention, then it could end very, very poorly,” he said.

Two teens were arrested in Volusia County after officials said they were caught on camera, one wearing a mask, walking up to a home and kicking in the door before running away.

The Volusia County Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, said it’s “a good way to end up dead, especially in Florida.”

“You got to think you’re about to become a victim of a home invasion robbery, and you’re under a castle doctrine. You’re going to shoot first and ask questions later,” Chitwood told WESH 2 News. “You’re endangering your future with this TikTok challenge. You know, you’re going to be charged with a felony.”

Master Sgt. Dominick Mesiti echoed that by explaining the legal consequences.

“When you’re physically trying to kick in a door, you likely damage the door, which is criminal mischief. If you make entry into the home, you’re looking at a trespass at a minimum, maybe even a burglary charge, because your intent is obviously to scare or breach the peace. So, if there’s an intent to commit a crime within a home, that’s a burglary. So you’re looking at several different charges that you could be facing by attempting this type of, quote unquote, prank,” he said.

On top of the legal consequences, Mesiti said the threat to life is extremely concerning. He said the PSLPD hopes parents take the time to explain that to their children.

“Tell their children not to give in to peer pressure and educate them on what the consequences are legally and just in general, where they could be seriously injured or maybe even killed attempting to do such a prank,” he added.

When it comes to the use of force, Mesiti said it’s a case-by-case basis; however, he emphasized the importance of understanding the laws and being responsible gun owners.

“You need to know what your rights are as far as protecting yourself and your property. And there is a risk to it. Law enforcement will get involved, and we will conduct an investigation. It will go to a grand jury if there’s a death involved, and that’s up to a grand jury to decide if the homeowner did or did not properly utilize that kind of force,” Mesiti said.

To avoid that from happening, he said it’s important that people report these incidents to help law enforcement prevent a tragedy.

“Our goal is to prevent something from happening. We don’t want to have to make an arrest, especially if it’s a juvenile conducting a prank, but if they’re damaging property, if they’re intentionally trying to kick a door in, if they’re intentionally trying to scare people, there may be legal consequences,” he told WPBF.

He said after seeing cases nationwide of children and teens taking part in pranks like ding-dong ditching and being killed in the process, these conversations are crucial.

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